Starting this week, residents who need to use Covid-19’s self-test kit, fentanyl test belts or other health supplies can get it for free at any of the 51 community health booths in Los Angeles County.
According to the public health department, a community health station program was initially established to continue distributing a total of vid-19 antigen tests, also known as rapid testing. But in response to “the worst overdose crisis in history, the county has a high rate of ongoing HIV epidemics and sexually transmitted infections,” the agency has added overdoses of prevention and sexual health products.
According to a recent report by the public health department, accidental overdose deaths increased by 48% compared to the same period in 2019.
In 2023, a total of 89,887 cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported to the county public health department, according to public health officials.
By storing kiosks for public health supplies, residents can take action to protect themselves and others in their communities, officials said.
“It makes it easier to access important products that support health and save lives through the self-service community health station," said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county’s public health department, in a press release.
The pavilions are housed in communities with lower access to health care and resources and can be found in pharmacies, health care centers, community centers and homeless shelters, officials said.
Public health officials so far say 80% of people using health supplies in kiosks self-reported to be homeless.
Ten kiosks are located on the planning website and temporary housing locations and are run by social services nonprofits with concern. At these locations, community health stations are located in public areas within buildings, making them easy to access while maintaining privacy, said Edgar Aguilar, a spokesman for the nonprofit.
Places of concern include:
“By removing barriers to entry, these pavilions empower individuals to protect their health and make informed choices while strengthening our broader goal of where to meet them and support their happiness without judgment,” Aguilar said.
A kiosk is located next to the pharmacy at Donnie Rancho Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
"As patients transition from hospitals to daily life, these stations provide an easy, continuous basic health supply that does not require an appointment or travel," said Alba Ibarra, a spokesperson for the Medical Center.
To find the nearest community health station, check out the online map of the Public Health Department.
The community health care station can provide the following products for free:
Kiosk users can conduct brief voluntary anonymous surveys to collect basic demographic information, however, access to the product does not require completion of the survey.
Community health stations are restocked at least once a week, or as long as some products in the kiosk are exhausted, according to public health officials. Reminders need to be made to the internal sensors of the public health department when replenishment is needed.
The Self-service Kiosk Program is currently funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grants as part of COVID outreach efforts. Since the kiosk includes prevention and sexual health-related products, some of the costs are also subsidized by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.