New UH lab provides free, rapid result COVID-19 testing to underserved
VIDEO NEWS RELEASE
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/3lzzxHs
WHAT: Recently established University of Hawaiʻi Tropical Medicine Clinical Laboratory (TMCL) is providing free, rapid result COVID-19 testing to the underserved (population groups with limited access to healthcare and health insurance, including the houseless).
WHEN: Testing events in the community take place regularly with two held yesterday (Saturday, December 5) at Pālolo Valley Homes and at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. More events are being planned.
WHO: Multiple community organizations, community health centers and the University of Hawaiʻi TMCL.
WHY: To reach underserved populations including Filipino, Pacific Islander and the houseless by building relationships with grassroots community organizations and going into the community where they are located.
HOW:
-
The UH COVID-19 testing lab, opened in October, was established through a City and County of Honolulu/UH partnership with funding from the federal CARES Act
-
Located at the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), the lab provides free COVID-19 testing with results provided within 24 to 48 hours
-
The lab is leveraging partnerships with community health centers to reach underserved populations, and as of early December, is processing about 70 tests per day from walk-ins at the health centers
-
The lab is developing and leveraging partnership with community groups to hold on-location testing events at locations like Pālolo Valley Homes—a public housing complex, the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu and the Wahiawā Community Center
-
TMCL is also providing houseless individuals with free COVID-19 testing through JABSOM’s Homeless Outreach and Medical Education Project, where UH medical students and faculty provide free health services to unsheltered populations
-
The lab’s long term goal is to enhance Hawaiʻi’s capacity to track emerging pathogens and develop diagnostic tools to detect tropical diseases such as dengue, Zika and rat lungworm
-
For more information, see the UH News story: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2020/12/04/uh-lab-provides-covid19-tests/
-
Visit the lab website for information on how to get a COVID-19 test and for upcoming community testing events
VIDEO:
Link to video and sound: https://bit.ly/3lzzxHs
BROLL (1 minute, 25 seconds):
1:00 Pālolo Valley Homes Covid-19 testing
:25 associate working in the JABSOM Tropical Medicine Clinical Laboratory
(Courtesy: John A. Burns School of Medicine)
Soundbites:
Rosie Alegado - UH Mānoa associate professor, JABSOM, community liaison lead (8 seconds)
“We provide focused testing in these communities and have been successful because of our partnerships with trusted organizations who encourage people to come out and get tested.”
Alegado (11 seconds)
“If we’re going to stamp out COVID in areas and communities with disproportionate infection rates, a high level of face-to-face care has to be given. This requires a network of interfacing services that includes our lab.”
Vivek Nerurkar - UH Mānoa professor and chair, JABSOM, principal investigator (14 seconds)
“Success of the Tropical Medicine Clinical Laboratory will depend on UH as well as the community at large. It is very important for their support to sustain this lab in the near future.”