BP Oil Spill, BP Oil Spill Cleanup Workers BLOG POST
The Gulf Coast Regional Health Outreach Program
Not all funds awarded in the medical settlement with BP Oil are going directly to the victims of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that claimed 11 lives and affected hundreds of thousands of people. Part of the settlement was a $105 million initiative, the Gulf Coast Regional Health Outreach Program, designed to strengthen communities in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana so they are better able to provide primary medical care and behavioral and mental health services to their residents following the BP Oil spill. The program comprises these main projects:
The Integrated Primary Care Capacity Project
The Integrated Primary Care Capacity Project is a $50 million program intended to provide integrated healthcare services to select communities in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. Critics argue that the limited scope of the geographical area served, the time restrictions set and the amount budgeted for this project are all insufficient to provide adequate medical care to the more than 150,000 individuals in the region who are suffering from toxic exposure.
The Mental and Behavioral Capacity Project
The Mental and Behavioral Capacity Project is a $36 million program for the treatment of mental and behavioral issues resulting from the oil spill. It is unclear why these services have been separated from the Integrated Primary Care Capacity Project, especially since the neurological effect of toxic exposure and mental health problems have similar symptoms. Some have expressed concern that the project is being overseen by only five individuals.
The Community Health Workers’ Training Project
The Community Health Workers’ Training Project is a $4 million program aimed at training health workers and assisting existing health workers in Gulf Coast communities. It is unclear why this is also not part of The Integrated Primary Care Capacity Project.
The Environmental Health and Capacity Project
The goal of the Environmental Health and Capacity Project is to improve environmental medicine, educate and train local health professionals, and fund an “emerging scholars program.” It is unclear whether the “emerging scholars” are to treat those who require medical assistance at the present time or to simply study the affected region in preparation for the next colossal spill elsewhere.
Library and Administration
This part of the medical settlement creates a public e-library. The library shall include studies, reports and other information about the health risks connected with exposure to crude oil, chemical dispersants and other compounds associated with oil spills and cleanup efforts.
If you are a resident and/or a former cleanup worker in the Gulf region, be sure to take advantage of all options available to assist you in your recovery. This includes consulting with the attorneys at The Downs Law Firm to seek the maximum compensation available for your injuries.
