Southcoast Health System, based in New Bedford, Mass., will fund a five-year, $375,000 project to increase access to primary care and address health disparities in the community, according to a New England Business Bulletin report.
The project, Greater New Bedford Healthy Equity Initiative, will be overseen by the Greater New Bedford Allies for Health and Wellness. Funds provided by Southcoast will be used to expand the reach of community health workers who provide outreach to underserved populations and to increase awareness of the workers, according to the report.
"I believe this collaborative effort has the potential to foster the development of a viable community health worker network with the capacity to reach people where they live and ultimately improve the quality of life of area residents," Marianne DeSouza, chairperson of GNB Allies for Health and Wellness and director of the New Bedford Health Department, said in the report.
The project, Greater New Bedford Healthy Equity Initiative, will be overseen by the Greater New Bedford Allies for Health and Wellness. Funds provided by Southcoast will be used to expand the reach of community health workers who provide outreach to underserved populations and to increase awareness of the workers, according to the report.
"I believe this collaborative effort has the potential to foster the development of a viable community health worker network with the capacity to reach people where they live and ultimately improve the quality of life of area residents," Marianne DeSouza, chairperson of GNB Allies for Health and Wellness and director of the New Bedford Health Department, said in the report.