COVID-19 Testing and Resources for Underserved Communities in Rural Tijuana

Abstract

Flying Samaritans at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, undergraduate student-led organization which provides medical and dental care, prescription medications, and health education resources free-of-cost to two underserved, rural communities in Tijuana, Mexico. Free Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing is not widely accessible in Tijuana. Pandemic-related job loss and high rates of financial instability in the communities create financial barriers which limit COVID-19 test accessibility. The COVID-19 Resources Project was developed to provide free, on-site COVID-19 rapid tests to patients at Flying Samaritans at UCLA’s monthly clinics. This project also offers reimbursement for the roundtrip cost of transportation to vaccination sites for patients who lack access to their own method of transportation, in order to eliminate barriers to getting vaccinated. Lastly, partnerships created with non-profit organizations funded this project and allowed for the provision of additional resources to the patient population. Details regarding this program’s development are provided in order to assist student-run free clinics which may be looking to start their own rapid testing and/or grant-funded projects. Lastly, COVID-19 testing is planned to continue into the future.