Women in rural areas who may not have access to breast health care can look forward to taking advantage of programs within their communities thanks to several grants awarded Wednesday through the Coastal Georgia affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Beth Desloges, executive director of the Coastal Georgia affiliate, announced during a press conference and luncheon Wednesday at the Richmond Hill City Center the organization had raised $345,000 to give as part of grants to community programs.
“We’re just very, very excited,” Desloges said. “These funds are funding local community health programs that range from education programs to screening and diagnostic programs, and they are geared at helping our local women.”
Desloges said the money would be divided into eight separate grants awarded to local programs that will help bring services to women who may not have access to breast health care. Each grant varies based on the amounts requested, she said.
“The women that we are targeting this year are women that would otherwise fall through the cracks, primarily African-American, Latina and rural populations,” she said.
Grant recipients are selected through a long process, she said. Grant proposals were accepted last winter, and then an independent review committee reviewed, scored and ranked the applications.
Two of the grant recipients are the Coastal Health District, which represents Bryan and surrounding counties, for its program “Early Detection Saves Lives,” and Liberty County Health Department for its “BRAVE III Program.”

Read more in the March 30 edition of the News.