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KC's Oldest Community Health Center To Break Ground on New Facility

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-730117.mp3

Kansas City's oldest community health center is gearing up to expand its facility.

Leaders of the Samuel Rodgers Health Center are breaking ground on a new health facility today, which they say will allow them to see more than 7,000 additional patients a year. Executive Director, Hilda Fuentes, says the nearly 40 year old facility off of 9th street is too old and needs major repairs. She also says it's become too small, as more and more people who lack adequate health coverage are seeking health services there.

Fuentes: We're starting to see more patients come through our door, we're starting to see more people who are uninsured, who are underinsured.

Fuentes says the new facility will be built next to the current one and will open within the next two years. Senator Kid Bond, Representative Emmanuel Cleaver, and Governor Matt Blunt also helped secure funding for the project and are scheduled to attend today's groundbreaking.

Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

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