Congresswoman Hirono Announces Federal Funding for
Moloka’i Community Rural Health Association, Inc.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i) today announced a $437,800 USDA Rural Development grant for Moloka'i Community Rural Health Association, Inc.
These funds will be used to provide long term care services, which, in turn, will create job opportunities for caregivers and trainers, as well as nurses and doctors. The funds will go toward helping educate and expose students to the various career paths in health care by taking them to visit Oahu’s health facilities.
The Moloka'i Community Rural Health Association will now be able to build state-of-the-art facilities with on-site training rooms where physical therapists, caretakers and families can receive quality training. Expansion of site services, which include adult-daycare and respite care for caregivers, in addition to being able to provide home care, will now be possible.
“Currently, there is no long term care facility on Moloka'i. When Moloka'i General Hospital began phasing out its long term care program eight years ago, it served about 10 to 12 patients; today two patients remain and the Hospital is not accepting any more. With the current economy, Moloka'i’s kupuna cannot afford to travel to neighbor islands for care, nor can they afford to hire caretakers from neighboring islands,” Hirono said. “I am proud to announce that with this grant, Moloka'i can start developing the necessary infrastructure for a long term care facility, so the kupuna of Moloka'i can receive the care they need and deserve.”
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