By The Star Staff
Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón highlighted on Thursday a new allocation of federal funds totaling more than $24.4 million to invest in improvements in health services and move forward with the reconstruction of the island due to the damages caused by hurricanes Maria and Fiona.
The various allocations come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The resident commissioner recognized the work done by each of the recipients to gain access to the federal funds generated in Congress.
Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Emergency Rural Health Care program, six entities will receive grants totaling $2,282,019.00 to expand access to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, rural health care services, and food assistance.
The Municipality of Camuy will receive $392,042 for the Municipal Office of Emergency Management to acquire essential equipment necessary to meet the increased healthcare needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and future health challenges. The project will benefit some 35,159 residents of the municipality’s rural communities.
The Municipality of Guaynabo, meanwhile will receive $365,366 to be prepared to face large-scale emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and acquire equipment to better serve the community. Some 26,289 people will benefit from the municipality’s initiatives.
Also receiving grants for emergency response and health services needs will be the towns of Moca and Salinas, as well as the Castañer General Hospital in Lares, Good Samaritan Hospital in Aguadilla, Guara Bi Caney, and Salud Integral en la Montaña Inc., for renovations at its clinics in Barranquitas and Comerío.
To cover administrative expenses incurred in the wake of Hurricane Maria to respond to the emergency, FEMA will receive $2,457,350.82, the Municipality of Yauco will receive $2,701,850.73 and the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources will receive $2,143,504.34.
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