Boccieri wants to see Zika aid distributed to communtities

COLUMBUS — State Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th is urging the Ohio Department of Health to distribute the $1 million in Zika funding received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directly to local communities.

With the funding was awarded this week, Boccieri remains concerned about information from local boards of health indicating the Department intends to keep these resources for state-led efforts instead of distributing it to local communities.

“I’m glad to see Ohio getting some support to combat this virus, but this money has to get to the local communities,” Boccieri said. “The state already maintains disaster readiness funds for statewide efforts, but local health departments are the first responders here and throughout Ohio. Communities need this funding to build mosquito control plans and implement active aerial sprays locally. For the state to keep this money is to defy the intent of CDC’s grant, which was meant to bolster not only states, but more importantly, local communities’ ability to prepare for, prevent and respond to Zika.”