Precinct Reporter Group News

Main Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Read Our E-Edition
  • ADVERTISE
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

Precinct Reporter Group News

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Read Our E-Edition
  • ADVERTISE
  • State Prepares for Fed Cash Spending, Must Include Minorities

  • State Drops Age for COVID Shot, Nonprofits Demand Bigger Role

  • Eat, Drink, & Spend – It’s Not Helping

  • OC Heritage Council: Testing, Vaccines, and Food

  • Youth Space Jam Resources Help Local Black Students

Latest PRGNews
Home›Latest PRGNews›COVID-19 Testing at a Black Church Near You

COVID-19 Testing at a Black Church Near You

By Precinct Reporter News
February 18, 2021
367
0
Share:

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey

‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

The Tabernacle Community Development Corporation (TCDC) in partnership with the Los Angeles County Health Services has launched a new program to expand access to free community-based COVID-19 testing in the Black community.

TCDC is setting in motion its effort in some areas of Los Angeles County where there have been the most minority COVID-19 deaths, infections and hospitalizations. The death rate for African Americans in California’s most populous county is 155 for every 100,000 people compared to 95 for every 100,000 among Whites.

Latinos in Los Angeles County have the highest death rate at 276 for every 100,000.

This expansion is part of the “Black Church COVID-19 Testing Partnership,” a Southern California grassroots public initiative that will provide free coronavirus exams at pop-up health centers located at 35 Black churches.

The program goal is to provide free tests to 150 individuals at each church location daily through June 30.

“Throughout Black communities in California, and across the country, lack of medical service has resulted in a disproportionate and an inequitable higher percentage of deaths and infections by this deadly pandemic,” said the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd, Senior Minister at First AME Church of Los Angeles, commonly called “FAME” by Black Angelenos.

Dr Gerald Agee Friendship Christian Church

“The Black community bears a great burden with poor health outcomes due to longstanding inequities and racism in healthcare and related institutions,” Boyd continued. “The Black church has long played the role of advocate and provider, a place of trust. When the government failed us historically, the church stepped in to provide and care for our community. That work continues today.”

So far, across California, about 7.5 million vaccines have been administered in the state. L.A. County residents – who total to about 10.4 million people — have received about 1.4 million of those COVID-19 shots.

About 2.8 % of all African Americans across the state have been vaccinated. Black Californians make about around 6% of the state’s total population of about 40 million people.

The African American Community Empowerment Council of California (AACECC), a San Francisco-based non-profit, has also kicked off an effort to provide COVID-19 exam sites at eight churches in Black communities that have been under-tested since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Working in collaboration with the TCDC of San Francisco, the launch also includes onsite, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at FAME. Founded in 1872, FAME is the oldest house of worship founded by African Americans in the city and one of the eight churches that will host COVID-19 testing sites.

The new testing sites at the churches will not require appointments, removing one barrier that has prevented some African Americans around the country from getting tested.

“L.A. County is grateful to work alongside First A.M.E. Church of Los Angeles, a long-time leader in this community, to roll out this new program that will increase COVID-19 testing access for the County’s Black residents,” Dr. Hong said. “While L.A. County has made strides in expanding access to COVID-19 testing, this new partnership will further ensure equitable access to testing for the Black community as testing remains a critical piece of reducing community transmission and improving health outcomes.”

Los Angeles County Health Services formed the partnership because the Black clergy and the church community has proven to be a trusted source of information and influence in the Black community, members of the African American clergy in Los Angeles say.

“Trust is sacred, and it hangs by a thread between the Black community and some of our institutions. The church has always been the bridge to engage the Black community, rebuilding the trust that has been broken,” said the Rev. Gerald Agee, founder and pastor of Friendship Christian Church (FCC).

“We urge those in our community to get tested. It is one way to help keep you and those you live with safe,” Agee continued.

Los Angeles County Health Services (DHS) is the second-largest municipal health system in the United States – after New York Health and Hospitals. Through its integrated system of 27 health centers and four hospitals – and an expansive network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for over 600,000 patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6 billion.

Boyd said he looks forward to joining hands with the county and state to fulfill a critical healthcare need in his community.

“We are thankful for the support of Dr. Clemens Hong of the Los Angeles County Health Services, other county officials and Governor Gavin Newsom and his administration for the investment in this testing partnership with Black churches,” he added.

For additional information regarding the testing sites and DHS, visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.

TagsAACECCBlack ChurchesCOVID19freeLong Beach Leaderprecinct reportertestingtricounty bulletin
Previous Article

Celebrating The Legacy of Jimmy Jews

Next Article

Majority Leader Reyes: $7.6B COVID Relief Package

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Precinct Reporter News

Related articles More from author

  • Latest PRGNews

    Study on Aggressive Prostate Cancer in African-American Men

    July 20, 2018
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Fontana Schools Approves Ethnic Studies Curriculum

    April 18, 2019
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Akoma Unity Center Virtual After School Program

    September 3, 2020
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Maintaining the Meaning of Juneteenth

    June 17, 2020
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Dembrebrah: Keep the Beat on History and Culture

    March 5, 2020
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Youth Space Jam Resources Help Local Black Students

    April 8, 2021
    By Precinct Reporter News

You might be interested

  • Latest PRGNews

    Civil Rights Icon Vernon Jordan Dies at 85

  • Latest PRGNews

    House Chair Waters: Return Consumer Protection to CFPB

  • Latest PRGNews

    Redlands Jumps to #20 After Impressive Win

Ads

Ads

Find us on Facebook

Precinct Reporter News Group

Your local news resource for 50 years in the Inland Empire, Orange County, Long Beach and surrounding areas!

To subscribe or advertise, call 909.889.0597

About us

  • Broadcasting & Media Production Company
    357 W. 2nd Street
    San Bernardino, California, CA 92401
  • mailto:sales@precinctreporter.com
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • State Prepares for Fed Cash Spending, Must Include Minorities

    By Precinct Reporter News
    April 8, 2021
  • State Drops Age for COVID Shot, Nonprofits Demand Bigger Role

    By Precinct Reporter News
    April 8, 2021
  • Eat, Drink, & Spend – It’s Not Helping

    By Precinct Reporter News
    April 8, 2021
  • IE/OC Prostate and Breast Cancer, Change the Menu

    By PRGNews
    July 16, 2015
  • Join our Recipe Competition!

    By PRGNews
    July 16, 2015
  • SB Budget Cuts CDBG

    SB CDBG Cuts Have Local Nonprofits Braced for the Worst

    By PRGNews
    July 16, 2015

Follow us

© Powered by Hotspotwebsites.net. All rights reserved.