Allegan County residents have a whole new way to access public health services thanks to the generosity of the Gun Lake Tribe following a donation celebration that took place this morning.
Last October, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, donated its CARES Act dollars toward an Allegan County mobile vaccination unit. The Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) and the Gun Lake Tribe held a donation ceremony on this morning at 11:00am, with COVID-19 safety protocols including social distancing and mask wearing required.
Chairman Bob Peters says, “The Gun Lake Tribe is honored to make this donation and continue our longstanding partnership with our friends in the Allegan County government,” and adds, “Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our respective citizens.”
The mobile unit will provide additional ways for community members to access public health services in their community. The ADA compliant mobile unit contains two exam rooms, a lab with a medical refrigerator, a waiting area and a restroom. The Allegan County Health Department is planning to first use the mobile clinic for COVID-19 vaccine clinics for vulnerable groups that have a harder time accessing currently available clinics. More information on those clinics will be provided at a later date.
Allegan County Health Officer, Angelique Joynes, MPH, RN, says, “We are thankful for the funds Gun Lake Tribe donated to make this mobile clinic a reality for Allegan County,” and adds, “Transportation has been identified as a barrier in our Community Needs Assessment for getting care. This mobile clinic allows us to bring our services to our Allegan County communities.”
The Donation Ceremony will be posted on http://www.allegancounty.org/health and on facebook.com/AlleganCountyHD.
