NANAY Acquires Building for New Health Center Project

June 2003- Miami, Florida

NANAY is pleased to announced the new purchase of a building in North Miami that it plans to use as the site of its new Health Center Project.

?Our aim is to reduce disparities by providing medical and health-related services,  improving the health status, and responding to the identified health care needs of individuals regardless of their ability to pay,? says Joy Bruce, NANAY President and CEO. ?We would like our disadvantaged elders and youth to have ready access to the full range of primary, preventive, and supplemental health services at the NANAY Health Center, as well as dental health, mental health and substance abuse programs off-site through established arrangements with other service providers.?

 The proposed site of NANAY Health Center, located two blocks away from the NANAY Community Center,  is a 4,950 sq ft professional building in North Miami that was purchased in partnership with the Filipino American Ministries (a faith-based organization), and with the help of Dr. Antonio Wong, Medical Director of Urgent Care Plus.  Half of the building will be occupied by the Filipino American Ministries for counseling, fellowship and supportive services for the community, in line with NANAY?s other programs. The other half will be reserved for the Health Center.  It will include a triage, three examination/ treatment rooms, an X-ray room, basic laboratory room, two rest rooms, a billing & administration room, reception / registration area, storage/file room, doctors/medical staff room, conference room and a small coffee room.

 A newly approved Closing the Gap grant from the State of Florida Department of Health, designed to increase immunization awareness and provide free immunization to children,  will be used to support the initial operations of the Health Center. NANAY hopes to someday receive Federal funding for the Health Care Center, which it plans to officially start operating in October.

NANAY currently has a 15-seater van and a 25-seater bus for regular transport of clients to and from the Community Center. A second 25-seater bus has been recently approved for funding by the Department of Transportation, and will soon be purchased so that NANAY can maximize its transport services for elders. To date, the NANAY Community Center in North Miami and its new Satellite Center located in South Miami have altogether served more than 500 elders.