Wico. Health Department receives grant for breast cancer screenings

WICOMICO CO., Md. –  A new grant is hoping to close the gap in health care coverage for Hispanic women living on the Lower Shore of Maryland.

The Wicomico County Health Department was recently awarded a $47,500 dollar grant from the Susan G. Komen foundation for its Closing The Gap: Hispanic Women and Breast Cancer program.

The program provides awareness, knowledge, and attitudes about breast health to the uninsured and under-insured Hispanic women of the Lower Eastern Shore.

We’re told Hispanic women have a higher rate of being diagnosed at a later time and that’s partly because of insurance issues and partly because of a language barrier, so having funding for a program like this is critical.

Elizabeth Martinez, an Interpreter for Susan G. Komen said, “The money is used to provide interpretation, navigation, and screening services for Hispanic women that live here on the Lower Shore area so we cover Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties.”

If you want to find out if you’re eligible for the “Closing the Gap” program, you can call the Wicomico County Health Department at 410-334-3480.