Lord Fairfax Health District Awarded Micro-Grant to Support Local EMS with Infection Prevention and Control Resources
October 7, 2026
Media Contact: Katherine Schroeder, Katherine.Schroeder@vdh.virginia.gov
Lord Fairfax Health District Awarded Micro-Grant to Support Local EMS with Infection Prevention and Control Resources
WINCHESTER, Va. – The Lord Fairfax Health District proudly accepts a Community Health Impact Micro-Grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). One of 22 local health districts in Virginia to receive the grant, Lord Fairfax Health District will use the funding to support local emergency medical services (EMS) agencies with infection prevention and control (IPC) resources.
“EMS providers serve in an integral role within the healthcare system, often working in unpredictable environments and conditions,” said District Epidemiologist Clarissa Bonnefond, MPH. “We worked with our local EMS agencies to figure out how we can best support them with IPC training and resources.”
District staff visited fire stations, went on ride-a-longs, and interviewed EMS providers to learn more about current practices and needs. Because it can be difficult for providers to perform hand hygiene out in the field, LFHD used the funds to increase access to hand sanitizer while providing patient care in all settings. Mountable dispensers were purchased for use in ambulances so hand sanitizer can be accessible and secure. Personal-sized hand sanitizer bottles with clips were also purchased for providers to carry with them wherever they provide patient care. LFHD has also started providing interactive IPC training for EMS providers to help agencies complete their annual education requirements.
The grant, which is part of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) program, is designed to support health departments across the United States with funding for programs specific to their individual community’s needs.
The PHIG grant is part of a larger award of $60,000 that VDH received to distribute to local health districts. Each health district that received the grant submitted a proposal that included an outline of its plan for the funding and the perceived impact of the funding on the community. The PHIG program requires awardees focus on the following areas.
- Training
- Educational activities
- Outreach
- Staff support
A team of VDH staff reviewed a total of 28 applications. Evaluators used the following measures to screen applicants’ proposals.
- Community Need & Potential Impact
- Reach & Target Population
- Community Partnership Strength
- Program Alignment & Eligibility
- Added Value of Funding
- Evaluation & Metrics Plan
- Feasibility & Readiness
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention oversees the PHIG program. The grants have supported health departments nationwide since 2022.
Through partnerships and collaboration, the Lord Fairfax Health promotes the health and well-being of our communities through education, prevention, and access to quality public health services. For more information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/lord-fairfax/.
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