(WFXR) – The CDC has awarded the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), as well as the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health a total of $30,694,661 to address COVID-19-related health disparities – $27,184,789 of that will go to the VDH with the remaining amount going to the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health.
The funding is part of a $2.25 billion nationwide investment, seeks to advance health equity by expanding state, local, US territorial, and freely associated state health department capacity and services.
The CDC says this is the largest investment to date to improve health equity in the United States.
“These grants demonstrate our steadfast commitment to keeping equity at the center of everything we do. They are an important step in our unwavering efforts to strengthen our communities’ readiness for public health emergencies – and to helping everyone in America have equal opportunities for health.”
Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH – CDC Director
The grants are meant to have a three-pronged effect:
- Reducing COVID-19-related health disparities;
- Improve and increase testing and contact tracing among populations that are at higher risk and are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities; and
- Improve state, local, U.S. territorial, and freely associated state health department capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection.
The full list of locations receiving funds with this grant program can be found by clicking here.
