Cigna Foundation Gives World of Difference Grant to El Centro de Corazón, Addressing Health Disparities for Women in Houston...
May 11 2016 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
- Improving health for underserved
women
- Guiding Latino women to health care
access, education
- Offering prenatal programs, cancer
screenings, other treatments
The Cigna Foundation has awarded a $100,000 World of Difference
grant to El Centro de Corazón to help improve health for Latino
women living in the East End of Houston, where medical, dental and
mental health professionals are in short supply. The East End, also
known as the Ripley Medically Underserved Area, is a neighborhood
whose residents are predominately Hispanic, low-income and
uninsured, and who suffer from increased rates of diabetes,
obesity, high blood pressure and depression, late-entry into
prenatal care, and a lack of timely immunizations. The grant will
be announced at El Centro’s community baby shower this morning.
“We’re excited to have found a strong partner in El Centro as we
work together to improve women's health for underserved women in
need of primary care, women’s health, dental care, and behavioral
health services,” said Mike Koehler, market president for Cigna in
South Texas. “The Cigna Foundation grant will enable El Centro to
provide breast and cervical cancer screenings, screening and
treatment for high blood pressure and diabetes, and prenatal
medical services.”
According to El Centro, a community-based health center, their
female patients report one or more barriers in accessing health
care. These obstacles include not having a personal doctor, relying
on emergency rooms for most care, and difficulties in obtaining
medical, dental care and prescriptions due to cost or lack of
insurance.
“Through our collaboration, El Centro will offer prenatal
classes for low-income women, as well as other women's health
education, to prevent illness and disease. Together, El Centro and
Cigna will help women in the East End community navigate the health
system and lead healthier lives,” said David Figliuzzi, executive
director of the Cigna Foundation.
“El Centro de Corazón is appreciative of the opportunity to
partner with Cigna to address the health care needs of women in
Houston's East End. Cigna's commitment to support El Centro's
Women's Health Program indicates its recognition of the benefit to
deliver high quality healthcare in the community to improve
maternal and child health outcomes,” said Marcie Mir, CEO for El
Centro de Corazón.
For more information on the World of Difference grant program
and Community Health Navigation, go to
www.Cigna.com/Foundation.
About the Cigna Foundation
The Cigna Foundation, founded in 1962, is a private foundation
funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its
subsidiaries. The Cigna Foundation supports organizations sharing
its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families,
and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on
those communities where Cigna employees live and work.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company
dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and
sense of security. All products and services are provided
exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna
Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company,
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of
North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such
products and services include an integrated suite of health
services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy,
vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including
group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains
sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more
than 90 million customer relationships throughout the world. To
learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook
or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
About El Centro de Corazón
El Centro de Corazón is a community-based Federally Qualified
Health Center (FQHC) which provides comprehensive health care
services for Houston’s East End community, one of the poorest areas
in the city. The predominantly Hispanic population in the East End
is impoverished, with 97% of El Centro’s patient living at/or below
200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Since being deemed a Federally
Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 2003, El Centro has provided over
250,000 patient visits. El Centro provides adult and pediatric
primary care, women’s health care, dental and behavioral health
services through its three health centers. El Centro’s mission is
to promote the individual, community, and social health of the East
End and the greater Houston area. To learn more about El Centro de
Corazón, please visit http://www.elcentrodecorazon.org/.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160511005044/en/
Cigna FoundationGloria Barone,
215-761-4758Gloria.barone@cigna.com
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