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USDA-RD presents a $50,000 grant to CHCC
Muña: Fund will be used to buy hospital beds
The U.S Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development, along with Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan, presented a $50,000 grant to Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. officials yesterday morning at Lao Lao Bay Golf and Resort in Kagman.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. receives a $50,000 check from the U.S Department of Agriculture Rural Development, which will be used to procure hospital beds. (Jayson Camacho)
CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña said the money will be pooled with local funds to buy hospital beds for the Commonwealth Health Center.
“This will be for more beds that will go to the corporation and will be added to the local appropriation that was given for the hospital,” Muña said.
Gov. Eloy S. Inos just signed in July a $2.7 million appropriation for projects on Saipan, of which $250,000 was given to the CHCC to procure hospital beds.
Muna said the hospital has 76 beds.
“Actually when we did a proposal, we estimated exactly how much, and the amount was significant, but it wasn’t enough to buy and completely fill beds in every room because we also have to consider the labor and delivery [sections],” she said.
Muña said this is their first grant from USDA.
Joseph Diego, USDA area director stationed in Guam, confirmed this.
“This check was given to CHCC because public health is important in the CNMI and is needed and this is our first grant that we gave to CHCC,” Diego told Saipan Tribune after the check presentation.
Muña noted that the hospital is looking into telemedicine and that they did try to apply for a grant in the current cycle but ran out of time. The corporation is looking into applying for the next cycle of grants.
“We will try to continue to apply for grants and we have already applied for several grants. It is a worthy cause for this grant and it is a great cause for the community,” Muña said.
