The Pfizer Foundation Awards the National Black Nurses Association Grants to Support Nurses and Older Adults During COVID-19 Pandemic

Black Facts.com

Funds will support the NBNA Wellness and Mental Health Program for Nurses and Just in time COVID Assistance Program for Older Adults

SILVER SPRING, MD, (June 12, 2020) – The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is pleased to announce charitable contributions from the Pfizer Foundation for $1 million to support theNBNA Wellness and Mental Health Program During COVID-19 and $40,000 for the Just in Time COVID Assistance Program for Older Adults.

The NBNA Wellness and Mental Health Program During COVID-19 grant will go towards providing mental health services and support for multicultural nurses on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the nation continues to grapple with COVID-19, the residual effects of the virus on the mental health of nurses has exposed a deeper problem. Many are struggling to manage the ongoing psychological effects of working as frontline healthcare providers fighting a pandemic that has taken the lives of patients, family members, and colleagues.

The Just in Time COVID Assistance Program for Older Adults grants will go toward providing resources to African American adults aged 55 years and older who are surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and need primary care services. The program will help older adults to:

1. Access state-run medical programs 

2. Access prescription medication assistance programs

3. Provide telehealth communication assistance for health assessment needs

4. Assist with food delivery services for medication adherence

“We are so grateful for the generous gifts of The Pfizer Foundation,” says Dr. Martha A. Dawson, President of the National Black Nurses Association. “The mental well-being of our nurses is in serious jeopardy. As nurses are treating COVID-19 and risking their lives, they are still humans fighting through depression, mental illnesses, and anxiety. This is also a very hard time for thousands of older African Americans who have lost their jobs, lost their health coverage, and some who have lost their hope.  I applaud The Pfizer Foundation for giving NBNA the ability to touch them with the help they need.” 

NBNA will also offer support for health literacy information for underserved communities to ensure that they have access to accurate information about COVID-19 from trusted sources and messengers. The initiative will proactively dispel myths, enhance overall health and health literacy, reduce health disparities, and potentially mitigate skepticism about newly developed COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

“We have seen the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the African American community amid this global health crisis,” said Niesha Foster, Vice President, Product Access, Global Health & Patient Access and Co-Chair of the Multicultural Center of Excellence, Pfizer Inc. “That’s why, as part of our philanthropic response, we worked with The Pfizer Foundation to support organizations like NBNA who are on the front lines, helping to protect those most affected by this disease.”

About the National Black Nurses Association 

Founded in 1971, the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is a professional organization representing 308,000 African American registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, and nursing students in 114 chapters and 35 states. The NBNA mission is “to serve as the voice for Black nurses and diverse populations ensuring equal access to professional development, promoting educational opportunities and improving health.” NBNA chapters offer voluntary hours providing health education and screenings to community residents in collaboration with community-based partners, including faith-based organizations, civic, fraternal, hospitals, and schools of nursing. For more information, visit nbna.org. #NBNAResilient

National Black Nurses Association, Inc.
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 910, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 589-3200 • Fax: (301) 589-3223

About The Pfizer Foundation

The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions. The Foundation provides funding and resources to support programs that nurture science and innovation, reduce the threat of disease, strengthen healthcare capacity, ensure access to quality care, address immediate disaster and humanitarian health needs, and enhance the community involvement of Pfizer colleagues.

Black Facts.com

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*