Cochise County in Arizona borders Mexico where the majority are White and Hispanic where many are lower income and a portion are undocumented. With a population of about 125,000 people, more than one-third of these are seen at the Chiricahua Community Health Center, which is the closest medical center to this area. About 20% of these patients are without health insurance, with expectations for that rate to continue to climb this year.
Advance Help Fill Gap From Federal Funding
A mother with no health insurance realizes her 5-month-old is not growing or thriving? They go to the center, because she knows, even without insurance and few funds to pay the full bill, her baby will be in good hands. And once the diagnosis is made, patients are not left on their own to figure out what steps to take; Chiricahua staff will accompany this family until their baby is well and thriving.
This child needed a plan to ensure they received adequate nutrition for “catch-up” growth and to address any identified underlying issues. The baby required a three-month supply of a specific targeted formula to support healthy growth, which the family could not afford. After exploring options from formula manufacturers, staff determined they would need 27 canisters of powdered formula, a three-month supply at a cost of $769. After the mother paid what she could, the health center covered the rest of the cost. In addition, the center now sees the mother and child every month to monitor the child’s progress.
With the loss of some federal grants last year, Chiricahua Community Health Centers was searching for ways to fill the funding gap. Global Ministries stepped in with a grant from “This Moment Matters” Initiative (Advance #3021770) which was specifically created to fill some of the funding gaps caused by the sudden withdrawal of federal grants and program initiatives.
Bridging the Gaps Between the Clinic and the Community
Despite Chiricahua Community Health Centers’ reach, lack of access to healthcare is still a major challenge in the county. There are not enough doctors, nurses, dentists, or mental health workers to cover the population. Even though the Chiricahua Health network, with 430 staff members, is one of the larger employers in the region, they are often stretched thin. The number of uninsured patients is likely to increase in the next year.
In addition, transportation – with no bus service, trains, or even a reliable personal vehicle – is a challenge for many. Despite having more than a dozen health facilities spread out in different towns, not everyone is close to a health clinic or dental office.
A third challenge is the lack of internet providers. Broadband outside of the small urban microcenters is very unreliable, so even virtual health visits online cannot reach many people who may need immediate help.
But the Chiricahua mobile clinic has made a big difference. Chiricahua takes medical services into the communities and visits rural farms and other work sites to provide in-person care and check-ups.
Dennis Walto confirmed that the extra support from Global Ministries is making more daily life-saving interventions possible. “We are proud that we can say that not only is there never a closed door at Chiricahua, but our Care Coordinators are actively opening other doors and addressing health-related social needs.” Through partners like Global Ministries, Chiricahua continues to provide care that goes beyond medical visits and strengthens the foundations that families need to thrive.
100% of Your Donation Helps
You can designate your donation to go to a specific missionary/country through The General Board of Global Ministries’ Advance accountability system. Missionaries are but one part, there are numerous of projects that you can support depending on your preference.
excerpt from a story by Christie R. House, consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.
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