Molokaʻi Community Health Center has acquired Community Project Funding within the quantity of $1,664,000 from the not too long ago handed $1.7 trillion federal spending invoice for the growth of dental companies.

Funds can be used to renovate the Center’s dental clinic so as to add three new dental operatories, versatile dental/hygiene/workplace areas for elevated workers and senior dental hygiene college students, an enlarged affected person ready space, state-of-the-art dental gear and a multi-tiered air sanitization system.

The new clinic area will double affected person entry to dental companies and accommodate three full-time dental/hygiene suppliers to deal with the overwhelming improve in demand for oral hygiene and dentistry companies island large. 

“We are grateful to Congressman Kahele for supporting our efforts to expand advanced dental care for the people of Molokaʻi,” stated Helen Kekalia, CEO of Molokaʻi Community Health Center. “With consistent year-to-year growth of new patients, these dollars are critical to increasing the size of our current dental clinic and practice that will allow us to provide for the growing needs of residents regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.  Long-term, this expanded space will support our efforts to diversify our oral health workforce and create a pipeline of providers to offer place-based care for our community.”

“I am delighted that the Molokaʻi Community Health Center was selected as a recipient for Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding in the amount of $1,664,000,” stated Congressman Kai Kahele. “On March 14, 2022, I conducted a site visit of the Health Center and met with CEO Helen Kekalia Wescoatt and other members of the Executive Leadership Team. The comprehensive health care services that the Molokaʻi Community Health Center provides are critical to the community and to the residents of Molokaʻi that it serves. This federal funding will support the vision that Helen and her team have for the expansion of services and facilities at the center, and aligns with our office’s goal of supporting rural community health centers throughout Hawaiʻi’s 2nd Congressional District. I look forward to their continued growth and I am grateful for all they do for our Molokaʻi families.”

Oral well being in Hawaiʻi has change into a vital public well being concern, notably among the many Native Hawaiian inhabitants and residents in rural and neighbor island communities. Research reveals that untreated dental issues can usually result in main diseases and even dying. Access is vital for Molokaʻi households to obtain correct dental care and oral hygiene to contribute to good well being and general wellbeing. 

Molokaʻi Community Health Center is a community-based well being group integrating major medical and dental care with behavioral well being, wellness, well being schooling and prevention together with the supplemental diet program for Women, Infants and Children.

MCHC has been acknowledged for its high quality of care as a recipient of the HRSA’s Quality Award from the Department of Health and Human Services for 4 successive years.