Tulane Talk

September 8, 2006

Good morning:

As you read this I am at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. hearing the great news that Tulane University’s Community Health Center at Covenant House will receive a $5 million grant from the State of Qatar.

The Community Health Center was founded last September when Tulane physician Anjali Niyogi set up a card table in the street to serve Hurricane Katrina’s first responders. Since then the center has established itself at the Covenant House, 611 N. Rampart Street, and served more than 7,800 patients with free adult primary care, mental health counseling, geriatric care and health education. Spanish translation services are also available.

Karen DeSalvo, executive director of the Community Health Center, who is also here for the announcement, will be using this Qatar grant to triple capacity at the center by adding six examination rooms and funding the purchase of a mobile medical unit to serve neighborhoods most damaged by Katrina. Money from the grant will also fund salaries for physicians, nurses and other support staff and purchase equipment and supplies. Most of all, this grant will allow Tulane to continue to be a leader in the recovery of our city.

The Tulane grant announced today is part of the final disbursement of a $100 million pledge Qatar made to victims of Hurricane Katrina last September. In that first round of gifts Tulane received a $10 million grant from the People of Qatar via the Qatar Katrina Fund that we are using to provide scholarships for students who suffered losses from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

We are indebted to the State of Qatar and its people for their continued support of our university and community. We are also indebted to our Tulane doctors who sacrificed so much before, during and after the storm to keep their patients safe. They are true heroes.

Have a great weekend,

Scott