TWIGGS COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) -- Jeffersonville is getting a new community health center thanks partly to a $190,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare.
The health education center will be about 3,750 square feet and feature areas for classrooms, health services, outdoor walking trails, and community gardens.
Officials say the center will create a center in Twiggs County for social service and health agencies to serve the community. Their aim is to improve residents' health and reduce health disparities in this rural community.
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center states that Twiggs County ranks 158 out of the state's 159 counties when it comes to health outcomes.
"Health is wealth, and we want to continue to do our best to enrich the lives of every single resident in our county,” said Dr. Keisha Callins, an obstetrician/gynecologist with CHCS in Twiggs County. “We are grateful for the partnership and financial support from UnitedHealthcare that will allow us to improve health inequities by giving our communities all the benefits afforded by health promotion and disease prevention at the future health education center."
Construction is scheduled to start in the fall and the center is expected to be finished by summer 2023.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Development Authority of the city of Jeffersonville, Twiggs County, and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University School of Medicine.
“CHCS is looking forward to continuing its partnership with Twiggs County in providing excellent healthcare for its citizens. This health education center will provide programs and resources to address direct concerns of community members in a location convenient to them,” said Carla Belcher, chief executive officer of CHCS. “We applaud the vision of those who made this possible and thank UnitedHealthcare for its generous grant.”
“UnitedHealthcare is committed to addressing health disparities that exist in rural communities and is dedicated to reducing barriers that contribute to poor health outcomes,” said Michael Minor, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia. “We are honored to support the creation of this health education center that will improve the health of our communities by increasing access to essential care for Georgians.”