Federal grant cuts stop public heath programs across Arizona

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona's public health system takes a hit after the termination of federal grants totaling nearly $190 million.

The cuts affect COVID-19 response programs, vaccine distributions, and disease tracking efforts statewide.

These grants funded critical health programs like tracking infectious diseases to providing vaccines. With that funding now gone, health officials are working to figure out what comes next.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) says these grants helped support efforts to detect, prevent, and respond to diseases. The Yuma County Health Department (YCHD) says these cuts could impact these services.

Ryan Butcher, YCHD's PR and Community Engagement Coordinator, says, "It's gonna cause a bit of delay although well still be able to do those jobs and be able to provide that information to the public. It will affect our length and time to do those things."

The loss of funding could make it harder for residents to get vaccinated.

One Yuma local, Tom Rushin, says investing in vaccines is key to keeping the community healthy: "I think we need to take advantage of all medical improvements that could occur and vaccines is one of them."

YCHD says these services will continue to be provided, but the way they provide them is what will be affected

"We won't be able to have as much manpower. We won't be able to purchase that much vaccines so you know those extra clinics...we do going out to the more rural parts of our county, those vulnerable communities are the ones that are going to be affected the most," Butcher shared.

YCHD says although these budget cuts will affect the way they respond to different services they will continue to provide the healthcare our community needs.