The Chautauqua County Health Department is set to deploy its mobile health vehicle in the city of Dunkirk.

The Dunkirk Common Council authorized an agreement with the Health Department earlier this to allow the vehicle in the city.

The county Health Department purchased the van with state grant funds. According to a handout from the department, “The vehicle will serve as an extension of the Heath (sic) Department. It is complete with a full exam room and is quite literally a moving public health billboard.”

The vehicle will start some services immediately, while others will take time and collaboration with other departments to implement. A tour of the van was to be offered today at the Gerace Office Building from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. to area media representatives.

The Health Department’s plans for the van include testing/screening, immunizations, referrals, preventative care, support for new parents, and medication-assisted addiction treatment.

The vehicle will be staffed by county employees. The city of Dunkirk must allow the vehicle to park at pre-determined destinations. It is allowed to use the van for distribution of information about city-funded health services.

Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak asked Monday how officials would market the availability of the new vehicle. City Attorney Michael Bobseine said the Health Department “will have to be working with our development office relative to scheduling and where they will be located. … Because of the outreach that they’re attempting here, they really are doing their own marketing relative to when and where and so on.”

Bobseine added the vehicle will also work with the city school district. “I think it’s going to be pretty significant for the city in terms of populations of special need,” he said.

Councilwoman Nancy Nichols later sought to emphasize that anyone will be able to access the vehicle’s services, and that there is no cost to the city.

Councilmen Martin Bamonto and James Stoyle did not attend the meeting during the first week of the month.