Florida Association of Community Health Centers Distributes Supplies Throughout State
With Florida health care providers still rising to meet the long-term challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC), with support from Health Choice Network (HCN) recently distributed a large donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Afya Foundation, a nonprofit organization that collects unused medical equipment and ships it to health systems across the globe.
“The staff members at Florida’s Community Health Centers across the state are fighting on the front lines of the continued public health crisis, and it’s imperative that all of them have ready access to the equipment they need to protect themselves and others,” said Andrew Behrman, President and CEO of FACHC. “This generous donation from the Afya Foundation provides continued assurance to many of our state’s Health Centers that their PPE needs will be met, and we are deeply grateful for that.”
The Afya Foundation donated over 60 pallets of PPE – totaling about $750,000 worth of supplies – to Florida’s Community Health Centers. The donation included over 1.3 million face masks, among other items such as KN95 respirators, face shields, and gowns.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, the Afya Foundation has been committed to supporting the needs of the nation’s Federally Qualified Health Centers, many of which continue to experience spikes in COVID-19 cases,” said Afya Foundation Founder and CEO Danielle Butin. “It’s our mission to help address the critical shortage of medical supplies in under-resourced communities worldwide, and we hope this donation brings additional safety and peace of mind to health care professionals and their patients in Florida.”
Florida’s Community Health Centers deliver high-quality, community-based comprehensive health care services to over 1.6 million patients at more than 700 locations across the state. Each Community Health Center offers patient-centered primary care services that address the unique needs of medically underserved communities.
Floridians can learn more and find their nearby Community Health Center Home by visiting FACHC.org.
About Florida’s Community Health Centers
For more than 50 years, Florida’s Community Health Centers have delivered high-quality, community-based comprehensive health care services to all patients regardless of their insurance status.
About the Afya Foundation
Since 2008, the Afya Foundation has been fulfilling its mission to improve healthcare delivery in underserved communities around the world. Afya accomplishes this goal by coordinating with local medical professionals on the ground and facilitating customized shipments of rescued surplus medical supplies and equipment that improve local health systems. Our regional network of medical supply donors and volunteers enables Afya to meet immediate humanitarian needs in areas devastated by natural disaster or public health crises in tandem with our long-term programs to address chronic health disparities.
