BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Metro Health in Baton Rouge got a $50,000 grant from Aetna Better Health of Louisiana. The money will go towards a brand-new mobile health unit. The unit will be utilized to provide health and wellness checkups in the city.

It will also be wheelchair accessible for those with disability needs and will be equipped with the latest technology and medical equipment for accurate test results. Many health officials are hoping that city residents take advantage of the mobile unit and that it becomes a great helping hand.

“Hoping that the community really sees that the advantage that, that we have as a community, even having this in Baton Rouge and that they utilize it,” said Nikesha Rodrigue, Lead Director of Marketing and Community Development of Aetna Better Health of Louisiana.

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Rodrigue is pleased with the amount of community involvement and support that came for this new mobile unit. She also says that the unit they previously had was simply too big to get around certain areas of the city.

The new unit will become easily accessible and able to get around. Many other health officials want to make sure that the importance of getting tested regularly and taking care of your health becomes a priority.

“It will allow Metro to be able to conduct outreach into these communities, bring a wealth of knowledge and education, but also, you know, you know, encourage them, you know, to seek out opportunities, you know, for seeking STI services,” said Anthony James, Deputy Director of Programs for the Office of Public Health.

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The new mobile unit comes as STD/HIV cases spiked in the city. Baton Rouge is ranked No. 4 in the highest cases of STDs and AIDS in the U.S. Health officials want residents to continue to get checked regularly, take care of their health, and to make sure they use the mobile unit.

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