A vivid blue park bench now sits alongside the sidewalk exterior the Well being Sciences constructing on the campus of Georgia School & State College.
The brand new resting place is an emblem of the not too long ago introduced grant partnership between the college and insurance coverage large Aflac. The Columbus, Georgia-based firm on Friday introduced $100,000 to GCSU to assist create a cellular well being screening unit that may profit underserved populations within the space.
Aflac President Virgil Miller, who can be a GCSU alumnus, was readily available to current the examine Friday as his alma mater ready to kick off its 2024 homecoming weekend.
“This CareGrant is about serving to folks,” Miller mentioned throughout Friday's temporary ceremony. “It's about serving to group members. It's about ensuring we assist those that want us most obtain more healthy outcomes. What makes it particular, although, is that it’s proper right here within the metropolis I’ve quite a lot of ties to, Milledgeville, Georgia.”
Since 2022, Aflac by means of its CareGrant program has awarded $2.6 million to 11 tasks. The $100,000 offered to Georgia School is the primary CareGrant awarded by the corporate within the state of Georgia.
“To Virgil and all the Aflac household right here immediately, we can’t thanks sufficient,” mentioned GCSU President Cathy Cox. “What a day to have fun. “We’re really honored to have Aflac’s bench, partnership, and help of the nice work we’re doing by means of our School of Well being Sciences to coach future healthcare leaders.”
Dr. Damian Francis, director of the GCSU Heart for Well being and Social Affairs within the School of Well being Sciences, shared that the cellular unit will assist develop the middle's attain on the subject of providing free well being screenings and different providers. associated to well being.
“We presently supply cardiovascular threat evaluation, in addition to blood stress, diabetes and ldl cholesterol screenings,” he mentioned. “We additionally perform different varieties of interventions corresponding to well being schooling associated to food plan, bodily exercise and CPR demonstrations. “What this cellular unit will assist us do is convey these issues to a number of the surrounding communities the place these providers are most wanted.”
GCSU nursing, public well being, train science and athletic coaching college students carry out screening at group occasions, giving them priceless expertise whereas offering what might be life-saving recommendation with out price. If an individual is decided to wish additional care, they’re referred to a Group Well being Care Programs clinic or their native public well being division. Francisco mentioned efforts reached 2,000 folks final yr.
“The cellular unit will permit us to do extra and do it just a little additional away,” he added. “All of the providers we provide are free and can stay free.”
No formal timeline was shared for equipping and operationalizing the cellular unit, however its focus shall be on Baldwin, Jones, Washington and Hancock counties. They’re all small rural communities recognized with giant numbers of people that lack medical insurance and subsequently battle to simply entry well being care.
“I simply suppose these communities must be higher off as a result of there’s a well being sciences faculty right here,” mentioned Dr. Will Evans, dean of the GCSU School of Well being Sciences.
Aflac's Miller mentioned she first heard in regards to the college's imaginative and prescient to create a cellular well being unit from Heart for Social and Well being Affairs board member Sharon Brantley Little, a Milledgeville native and likewise a GCSU alumna .
“After we heard about this program, it match our mission,” Miller mentioned.
The park bench holds a particular place within the historical past of the Aflac firm. It started with a industrial that first aired in 2000, when two males sat on a bench speaking over lunch about supplemental insurance coverage. One of many males doesn’t keep in mind the identify of the corporate and a close-by duck first says after which shouts: “Aflac!” in response. The advert helped the corporate's model consciousness skyrocket, and its commercials now seem closely in school soccer video games that includes names like Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and retired Alabama head coach Deion Sanders. Nick Saban, in main roles.
Aflac installs vivid blue park benches in communities the place it awards CareGrants.
“We put these benches within the parks the place we give out CareGrants to remind those that it is a place of relaxation and leisure, not a spot the place you could have stress about your funds due to overwhelming medical debt,” Miller mentioned.
“This bench shall be a fantastic reminder to our college students, school, employees and friends on campus of who we’re on this mission of schooling and repair to ship good well being outcomes to our communities.” GCSU President Cox added.