SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — In East Oakland, Dr. Noha Aboleta founded Roots Community Health Care to serve underserved populations. She particularly wanted to ensure that the mostly Black residents treated at her clinic were treated by health care providers who represented them.
“This is absolutely critical,” Dr. Aboleta told ABC7 Morning anchor Reggie Acqui. “From the beginning, the premise of Roots Community Health has been that you have a place to go, that you feel safe, and that you're understood. And when you see people who look like you, it makes that that much easier. .”
Gilead Sciences is donating $250,000 each to Roots Community Healthcare and 20 other Bay Area organizations to create health care education opportunities for underrepresented students. The Foster City-based biopharmaceutical company hopes donations totaling $5 million will help close the gaps that exist in the Bay Area. Gilead cited data from the California Health Care Access Information Agency and found that Latinos and Blacks make up nearly 30% of the Bay Area's population, but only hold about 10% of active medical licenses. It shows.
“We know that health equity plays a critical role in ensuring people have access to medical and preventive services,” said Carmen Villar, Vice President, Gilead Sciences. “If we don't help make it happen in our communities, there's no way we'll make it happen anywhere else.” .
Other winners in the Bay Area include UCSF, East Oakland Youth Development Center and ALAS in Half Moon Bay.
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
