GREENVILLE — When you’re uninsured, even the simplest of medical procedures or exams can seem far out of reach.

But ignoring your health only puts off the inevitable and adds to the cost of your care when your body, teeth or vision break down.

During a special Greenville event in August, Experts from a variety of medical fields will be giving their services to those who could not otherwise afford them.

SC Mission is the first ever statewide healthcare event that brings providers and healthcare volunteers together with the public to provide free dental, medical and comprehensive vision exams to the uninsured residents with low incomes.

SC Mission will be held 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, August 6 and 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, August 7 at the Carolina First Center in Greenville.

Organizers say the purpose of the event is both to see to the immediate health needs and to connect patients with a local place for follow-up care.

The SC Mission Event is held in conjunction with the annual SC Dental Association’s Dental Access Days,

“When you think of dental care, you think of a private dental office or perhaps a small clinic,” said Dr. W. Carter Brown. “Well, imagine 80 dental chairs set up in the Carolina First Center.”

Last year’s Dental Access Day provided 1,600 patients with almost $600,000 in free dental care.

Volunteer dentists from nearly county in the

state offered their services to the initiative, Brown said.

This year, the South Carolina Hospital Association is partnering with the Dental Association, he said.

“They will be bringing extra services to the patients we’re seeing,” Brown said.

Services include general primary care services. Dental and vision services available include fillings, extractions, cleanings and comprehensive vision exams.

To ensure that patients’ needs can be met, vision services will only be provided from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, August 6, officials said.

In addition to offering vision exams, the South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association is partnering with Robertson Optical Laboratories to provide glasses during SC Mission 2010.

Patients needing glasses will be charged a nominal fee of $35.

To make the Mission event a success, the work of many volunteers is needed. Volunteers needed include general volunteers, medical doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, dieticians, pharmacy technicians, laboratory techs, health educators, diabetes educators and interpreters for the hearing-impaired or those who cannot speak English.

A complete list of volunteers needs can be viewed at http://www.accesshealthsc.net/mission2010.2.php

To volunteer, contact Please contact Angel McCrea, the Volunteer Coordinator, by e-mail at ammcrea@scha.org or call 803-744-3505.

Medical supplies are also needed as well.

If you work at a hospital or supplier and would like more information about SC Mission’s supply needs, contact Erin Baxter, the Supply Coordinator, by e-mail at ebaxter@scha.org or call her at 803-744-3512.

To learn more about SC Mission 2010, call event Coordinators, Lara Hewitt at 803-744-3518 or Melanie Matney at 803-744-3556 or visit http://www.accesshealthsc.net/mission2010.php