Mobile Clinics Open Doors to Stability for Chippewa Valley Newcomers

A first-ever Mayo Clinic mobile vaccine initiative recently boosted the health of 68 Chippewa Valley newcomers in a collaborative partnership with World Relief Wisconsin and the Eau Claire City-County Health Department.

A grant from the Pablo Foundation provided a strong dose of support for two mobile vaccine clinics in Eau Claire aimed at reducing barriers for refugees like Romain Batsimba and Evelyne Mayala and their six children who recently resettled in the area.

In 1998, the couple fled to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a hub for displaced people. For 25 years, their life was marked by political instability, limited healthcare and economic hardship. It’s where their children were born and raised—and where they held on to hope for a better future. In August 2024, that hope brought them to Eau Claire.

 A year after arriving, Batsimba and his family are taking the next step toward stability: applying for permanent residency. The mobile clinics didn’t just provide needed vaccinations—they also included a review of medical records by a civil surgeon, a critical requirement in the Green Card process.

“Besides being good for our health and an important thing to do, it is a real advantage to try to take care of all of this at one time,” Batsimba said.

Removing Barriers to Healthcare Access

The mobile clinics eliminated the need for multiple trips to appointments at medical facilities—a significant barrier for many newcomers without cars or flexible work schedules—and expanded access in a region where provider availability is limited. In total, the clinics saved 23 families 184 hours of time typically spent on immunizations, consultations and paperwork to complete the medical form required for a Green Card application.

The clinics also reduced out-of-pocket costs by offering vaccines and civil surgeon reviews at no cost, saving families hundreds of dollars in fees typically required for green card medical processing.

“For many of the families we serve, this kind of access to care isn’t just about physical health—it’s about stability, dignity and the opportunity to fully belong,” said Gail Cornelius, World Relief Wisconsin’s regional director. “By helping families complete key steps like the civil surgeon review, we’re walking with them toward long-term integration and flourishing in their new community.”

Built on Community Collaboration

Collaboration with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department (ECCHD) was a vital component to the initiative’s success.

“Getting so many people through this process was only possible because all the resources for translating information and reviewing the paperwork were in one place,” said Allison Gosbin, ECCHD public health nurse who reviewed the vaccination records.

World Relief Wisconsin staff and volunteers kept the process running smoothly during the clinics as newcomers moved from station to station.

Patrick Day, a retired University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire French professor, walked alongside the Batsimba and Mayala family during the August clinic, helping ensure they could understand and respond to the medical and legal information shared that day.

“I’ve volunteered with World Relief a few times, mostly with translation,” he said. “It is important to welcome immigrants to the community.”

A Model for the Future

The pilot clinics reflected World Relief’ Wisconsin’s holistic approach to community support—meeting practical needs today while helping shape more equitable systems for tomorrow.

“We believe in walking with families not just in crisis, but into stability and flourishing. This pilot mobile clinic initiative was a significant step in that journey—and we’re hopeful it can serve as a model for broader healthcare access and deeper community impact in the future,” Cornelius said.

That forward-thinking approach also fits well with the Pablo Foundation’s mission to work toward a sustainable community in health, housing, education and the arts in Eau Claire.

Learn more about the services and programs we offer at World Relief Wisconsin.