A new face is leading the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department.

Rio Grande Valley native Dairen Sarmiento Rangel is taking over the role, and said she's looking forward to bringing changes to the department.

“We've provided more training, more education,” Sarmiento Rangel said.

Sarmiento Rangel has served as the department’s assistant director since January 2021, according to a news release from the county. She previously worked in several other Hidalgo County departments, such as the county clerk’s office, the county judge’s office, the county budget office, and the human resources department.

Sarmiento Rangel says the biggest need for Hidalgo County is primary care, and she hopes the county's new lab will help address the need.

READ MORE: Hidalgo County opens new public health facility

“We are hoping to provide basic screenings in the future, hopefully early next year, so that we can screen for diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure,” Sarmiento Rangel said.

Aside from additional health services, Sarmiento Rangel said she is planning to bridge the gap of communication. She said one of the struggles that they face is the community not knowing what the health department does.

“I want them to know what services we provide, and I want them to know also that they can come to us and have access to care,” Sarmiento Rangel said.

With eight clinics in Hidalgo County, the health department offers many services including immunizations, prenatal care, and STD screenings.

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