Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas — The City of Laredo Mayor Pro-tempore and Council Member for District 2, Vidal Rodriguez, along with other City leaders, hosted a special ceremony to celebrate the renaming of the Santo Niño WIC Health Clinic to the Carlos René and Raquel G. Ramirez WIC Clinic & Health Center. A mural, painted by local artist and son of the honorees, Carlos Rene, Jr., also known as “Sketch”, was unveiled to promote the clinic’s services.
The renaming of the clinic and mural were dedicated to the Ramirez family, who placed their trust in the Santo Niño WIC clinic with their children. The mural represents Carlos René and Raquel’s story. The characters were painted faceless so that the viewers can see themselves in the story. In addition, the facility is also introducing a new logo (as demonstrated below). The logo represents Raquel, who always made her presence known by waving the “I love you” sign in American Sign Language. The two fingers cradling a baby represent the WIC staff’s care for the children they help. The hand is also in the shape of a dove that Raquel famously drew in all she did.
On May 4th, 2020, the Laredo City Council approved the re-naming of the clinic. The clinic currently sees over 4,200 cases each month. It is home to the only Baby Café in Laredo – where individuals are able to consult with an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant every week and receive free breastfeeding resources for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The location is also strategically located in the southside of town and two blocks from the H-E-B in Zapata Highway, which is the largest seller of WIC products in Laredo. WIC Clinics improve families’ health, connecting them to health care services, including maternal, pediatric, and dental care. They connect moms to immunization centers and promote breastfeeding, as it is the only source of baby food for some families.
The unveiling ceremony included remarks from Carlos René Ramirez, expressing gratitude for the City’s work and honoring the memory of his wife, Raquel, and a musical performance from their children, Carlos Roberto and Carlos Ricardo. The Carlos René and Raquel G. Ramirez WIC Clinic and Health Center is located at 2201 Saltillo St.
