Yuma County accepts Arizona Community Foundation grant to support tuberculosis screening and treatment

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of a community grant on May 5 to support the county Public Health TB program.

Diana Gomez, director of Yuma County Public Health, told the board the TB program performs skin testing, contact tracing, direct-observed therapy, and screening for people entering shelters and health-care training programs. "We currently are tracking 6 active cases in our community," Gomez said. She said the program schedules about 90 appointments per week and partners with local organizations to screen people entering shelters and recovery programs.

Veronica Shore, regional director for the Arizona Community Foundation, said the foundation has supported the county program for multiple years and that the current award brings nearly $75,000 this cycle. "This is, I think, our third year funding this project, so almost $75,000 and we look forward to continuing to partner on this TB project," Shore said.

Gomez told the board the TB program also uses isolation housing when needed for people who cannot safely isolate at home during early treatment; staff reported there were no individuals in isolation housing at the moment and described the facility as used for initial isolation to protect high-risk household members. The board approved the consent item to accept the grant; there was a motion, second and unanimous aye vote.

Public Health said the program works with Crossroads Mission, Transitional Living Recovery Center, Victory Outreach and Community Medical Services to provide screening for people entering shelters or recovery programs and to follow patients through treatment.

The grant is intended to support screening, treatment support and program operations to maintain the county’s TB response capacity.