Residents received the opportunity to be tested for the coronavirus this week thanks to a partnership between a local federal health clinic and the local public housing authority.
The Family Health Center and the Laurel Housing Authority sponsored their first mobile testing site on Tuesday, April 21 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. to provide COVID-19 tests to local residents. LHA Executive Director Ailrick Young said the housing authority is always looking for ways to provide opportunities to local residents that could enhance their lives.
The Family Health Center, a locally-operated and federally-funded local health center, has been one of the Housing Authority’s community partners for many years.
Agencies’ officials said their goal with this partnership is to provide local residents with affordable health care.
Dr. Rashad Ali, chief executive officer for the Family Health Center, said the center has been working in the Laurel-Jones County community for many years providing medical services to residents.
“Our goal is to ensure that the Family Health Center is doing all it can to service the citizens of this area,” Dr. Ali said. “We are all about prevention, diagnosis and treatment to the uninsured and underserved population in Jones County.
“We are targeting those who are over looked,” Ali continued. “We want to make sure we provide the people with the services we have available.”
Coney Johnson, chief operating officer for the Family Health Center, said this week’s event was the health center’s first initial community outreach of COVID-19 testing with the Housing Authority.
Johnson said the Family Health Center is a federally-qualified community health center with a goal of providing quality comprehensive health care to the target populations that would otherwise be underserved.
At the time of the testing, the state health department had 80 confirmed positive tests in Jones County.
“Testing is important because it’s the key to identifying those who may have the disease or come in contact with someone with the disease,” Johnson said. “Community testing is a way to make sure everyone has an opportunity to be tested.”
Laurel City Councilwoman Grace Amos was one of several people who took advantage of the testing event.
Amos commended the agencies for making the test available.
“I am thankful for the Family Health Center and the Laurel Housing Authority for providing this service to the citizens of Laurel and Jones County,” Amos said. “I am hoping a large number of people will take advantage of this opportunity.
“It’s imperative that people know their health status concerning COVID-19 to prevent the spread,” Amos added. “I’m a caregiver and I need to know my health status to avoid giving it to someone else.”
Laurel Housing Authority Resident Mildred Lyles agreed.
“I wish more people would participate,” Lyles said. “Why not get the test when it’s free and know whether or not you have the disease?”
Terrance Thigpen, chief public information officer for the Family Health Center, said the Family Health Center has been offering the testing to those in need at the clinic. However, the mobile unit is a way to provide more service to the community.
“It’s about being a community partner,” he said. “This is a really good collaboration effort between the Family Health Center and the Laurel Housing Authority, and I’m glad we will be working with them on this matter for several events.
Johnson said it’s important for everyone to be concerned about the disease and the precautionary measures being recommended.
“We continue to ask people to be concerned about our health and adhere to the Center for Disease Control’s rules about wearing masks and social distancing.”
Johnson said the COVID-19 pandemic, which the Mississippi Department of Health mandated that non-emergency should be handled on a call-in basis, has impacted the patient flow at the local health center and the community mobile testing is a way of reaching out to those who would otherwise not come into the clinic and be tested.
The Family Health Center and Housing Authority, which has four sites, have several other mobile testing events scheduled in the next few weeks.
The Laurel Housing Authority’s mission is to provide and create affordable housing opportunities that promote and provide safe housing, self-sufficiency and viable productive communities for individuals and families within Laurel and Jones County.
Anyone wanting more information about the Housing Authority can call 601-425-4651.