Thursday, December 21, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC – The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington will receive $320,000 in federal funds to provide primary health care services and education to rural communities in Southeastern North Carolina. These funds were included in final budget bills passed by Congress at the request of Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), who represents the state’s 7th district.



UNCW’s nursing school will get a $150,000 economic development grant to cover operating costs for a rural health clinic in Navassa. The Town of Navassa built the 5th District Rural Health Clinic which was dedicated in October. In addition, $170,000 will fund construction of a similar facility in Bolton. These grants build upon efforts by the UNCW School of Nursing to provide primary health care and health education to medically underserved communities.



“With this $150,000, faculty and students from the School of Nursing will provide limited services, focused education and health assessment to families with chronic illnesses,” said Dr. Virginia Adams, dean of the nursing school. “We anticipate clinic operations to begin late spring.”



“This is a major victory for the families in our area who deserve quality health care,” said McIntyre, co-chair of the House Rural Health Care Coalition. “These funds will play an important role in making health care services more affordable and accessible. I look forward to working with UNCW and these communities on this important initiative to expand rural health care.”



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For more information, contact Dr. Adams at 910/962-7410.