A majority of Richmond children from low-income families apparently are not getting annual checkups from doctors, even though the children have health insurance through Medicaid or other programs that would cover the cost.
The result: Many youngsters are dogged by obesity or other treatable physical and mental health problems that are never dealt with, disrupting their education and well-being.
That finding emerges from an East End pilot program led by a Richmond pediatrician, Dr. Joseph W. Boatwright III, and the former coordinator of an East End health outreach program, Dr. Richard Seely, who has a doctorate in business administration.
Their findings take on more significance as the city prepares to join the Invest Health initiative, which seeks to bring together public and private health entities to address health issues.