Oahu Community Health Centers Receive $3 Million to Expand Health Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that community health centers on the island of Oahu will receive nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the expansion of health services. The health centers receiving funding include Waimanalo Health Center and Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services.

“Federal funding plays an important role in ensuring that Hawaii’s Community Health Centers can continue to provide critical health services for the communities they serve,” said Senator Hirono. “As Republicans have learned firsthand as they’ve failed to garner support for their mean Trumpcare bill, health care is a right, not a privilege for those who afford it. I will continue to advocate for Hawaii’s community health centers to make sure they get the funding they need.”

As part of the grant funding, Waimanalo Health Center will receive $1,135,451 and Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services will receive$1,833,342.

“The resources or monies that Waim?nalo Health Center receives through the Health Center Cluster program of the DHHS, HRSA, Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act is vital to the provision of much needed primary care, behavioral health, dental, vision, and supportive services in this community,” said Mary Frances Oneha, Chief Executive Officer for Waimanalo Health Center. “Resources allow us to deliver and expand these services in order to address increased demand in access or specific need. We are grateful to the DHHS for their support of community health centers in serving the uninsured and underserved.”

“KKV remains optimistic that despite ongoing wrangling over health care reform, our elected officials will continue to see the wisdom of continued funding of the nation’s Community Health Centers,” said Dr. David Derauf, Executive Director for Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services. “Today's announcement of this year’s funding means that we will be able to continue to provide the Kalihi community with high quality, culturally sensitive and affordable care.”

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