CLEVELAND, Ohio — A new medical center is having its official grand opening Thursday, and physicians say their doors are open to all. 

• Salaam Clinic offers free primary and preventative care for adults and youth, with or without insurance
• The clinic has a volunteer medical staff of over 8 physicians nurses, and support staff, who rotate on a regular basis
• The clinic is open every Sunday, from 1-5 p.m. 

Many from all over the country come to Cleveland to experience the city’s highly ranked hospitals and world-renowned medical centers. However, some who call Cleveland home can’t access or afford that same care.

“I’ve seen many of times patients missing their appointment and many will ask them, why didn't you show up, and then sometimes they would say, well, you know, I had a bill from my previous visit which I'm still paying off,” said Dr. Marina Magrey, of Salaam Clinic.

 Dr. Marina Magrey has been working at MetroHealth Medical Center for 20 years. After seeing the lack of free clinics in the city, she and some colleagues decided to start the Salaam Clinic, which is supported by the non-profit social service organization Salaam Cleveland. 
 
“We wanted to choose a place which was like centrally located, and where people don't have a co-pay, to pay for parking, people don't have co-pays, they just come in we take care of them.” Magrey said. 
 
Magrey and other doctors, physicians, and support staff donate their time to give free, convenient and accessible care to communities that need it most.
 
“Especially in Ward 7, we found that almost 17% of the community members do not have health insurance at all. So, there is a population that is still in need,” said Salaam Clinic Chief Operating Officer, MPH Mecca East.
 
“People are not able to not willing to not keen on going out to these big buildings. they want something within their neighborhood. they want people who they are comfortable approaching, and they want at the one this at a time where they don't have to get out of their jobs or take time off and all that,” said Dr. Syhed Ashraf, of Salaam Clinic.
 
Salaam Clinic is located in donated space on the lower level of Bilal Community Center on Euclid Avenue, and offers primary and preventative care for adults and youth. with or without insurance.

Dr. Syhed Ashraf says if there is a service they can’t provide, they will connect the patient with a convenient medical center that can.
 
“We will align and we have already aligned with institutions in the area. So, we do referrals, we do ancillary services, we do prescriptions, obviously through other entities, we cannot do it all ourselves,” said Ashraf.
 
Although the clinic has only been seeing patients for a month, it’s already making an impact.

Edward Abdell Aziz says his blood pressure has been much more consistent due to his visits with Dr. Magrey.
 
“Just concern, you know, the compassion that you have a capacity for, for giving someone free services, medical services, and these doctors they work tirelessly, and to donate the time that they do and now especially in a community that's where it's really needed…it’s a plus, it’s a godsend” Aziz said.
 
The clinic’s chief operating officer Mecca East says at Salaam Clinic, providing health education will be just as important as providing health care services. 
 
“We’re also offering health education workshops and health literacy,” said East. “A health education is very important for everyone, especially in our community, because sometimes you may go to a doctor and leave, not really knowing what's going on with your body. So, we want to really break that down and let people know that you need to understand the process,” said East. 
 
Magrey says she’s not only encouraging more people to take advantage of the clinic’s free services, but hopes her colleagues at area hospitals and medical centers join her in serving her community.

“That would make it much easier for us, that we can provide care for more people,” said Magrey.

The Salaam Clinic is open every Sunday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.