Need a ride? Uber to provide free trips to Columbus area county health departments
Residents served by the West Central Health District may now get a free Uber ride to their nearest health department .
The rides will be funded through the Vaccine Access Fund launched by Uber, Walgreens and Paypal through the Local Initiatives Supports Corporation (LISC) in April. The fund provides free Uber transportation to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine outreach and delivery, and the West Central Health District was a recipient of one of the grants.
Despite the fund’s name, people who need transportation to the health department for services related to issues other than COVID-19 are covered under the grant’s funding.
Transportation is an issue for many in rural and underserved communities, Dr. Asante Hilts, program manager for the West Central Health District, said in a statement to the Ledger-Enquirer.
“In many rural counties, the health department is the only place to obtain preventative services,” she said. “There may not be physicians, or even drug stores in these counties.
While people are at the health department, they can also receive a COVID vaccine if they haven’t already gotten one, a second dose or a booster, Hilts said. The only service that people may not receive a ride for is COVID testing, Hilts said.
Recently, Hilts led a group of volunteers to survey Columbus residents who live in the lowest vaccinated neighborhoods to learn more about how to service their needs at the health department.
In addition to COVID-19 vaccinations, the health department also offers programs and services such as women’s health and the dental health clinic. Other programs and services may be found on the district’s website, where residents can also make an appointment if they need to.
The district asks that anyone who would like to use the service to verify that their county’s health department offers the service they need before calling to schedule a ride.
In order to take advantage of the offer, people must call the call center at 706-653-6613 to schedule the ride. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If riders schedule the Uber ride through the app or any other means, then they will be charged at normal Uber fees.
“We are excited to offer this in our district,” Hilts said. “And hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity, not only to receive a COVID vaccine, but for any other service at their local health department.”
