Grant Will Help Pay For Bilingual Signs At Clara Maass Hospital

BELLEVILLE, NJ — About 40 percent of the patients and visitors at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville speak Spanish. And these are the people who will benefit the most when a grant from the Saddle Brook Walmart enables the hospital to install bilingual signs throughout the facility, administrators say.

Last week, Clara Maass announced that the Walmart in Saddle Brook awarded the hospital with a $1,000 grant to help put up the signs.

It’s only fitting the hospital will soon have Spanish signage, administrators pointed out. It’s home to The Center of Excellence for Latino Health, which was established in 2016 to address important health issues facing the growing Latino population such as higher rates of obesity and increased risks for developing diabetes and heart disease.

“Enhancements that are as simple as bilingual signs, in our native language removes barriers and are a major step toward helping those whose first language is Spanish, are able to easily navigate the Medical Center” said Sarah Bonilla, program manager for the center.

“This grant will also make our health education-related materials available to our patients, visitors and community members who may be more comfortable reading Spanish rather than English,” Bonilla said.

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