WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government plans to provide half a million dollars to help two health centers in Flint, Michigan amid the city’s massive water contamination crisis, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced in a statement on Thursday.
“We are focused on supporting the people of Flint by helping to ensure they have access to clean water and the health services they need to mitigate the effects of lead exposure,” HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell stated. “This additional funding will allow health centers in Flint to enhance their lead testing efforts and quickly hire more staff for community outreach and to better meet the needs of the people they serve.”
HHS explained that Flint’s Hamilton Community Health Network, Inc. and Genesee Health System would each receive $250,000 in “emergency supplemental funding” to hire more personnel, conduct more lead testing and treatment, the statement noted.
In addition, the funds will enhance outreach and education efforts to “meet the increased need for health services in the Flint community,” the statement added.
Earlier in February, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, members of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the former Flint mayor and several other officials agreed to meet with the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee for a hearing on the Flint water crisis.
