WASHINGTON – Today, Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser gathered at the new Benning Road Clinic COVID-19 testing site to announce the clinic’s expansion to four days a week. As a show of community support, journalist Armstrong Williams, founder and sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings Broadcast, and Capital Medical Supply, Inc., donated 30,000 masks to be used at the clinic for staff and patient safety. 

“The Howard University Faculty Practice Plans testing site has been met with overwhelming response from the D.C. communities of Ward 7 and Ward 8,” said Dr. Frederick. “That lets us know that we are in the right place and the expansion to four days a week will allow us to see patient sooner so they can know their status faster. We’d like to thank Mayor Bowser for her guidance to get our city through this pandemic, and special thanks to Mr. Armstrong Williams and Capital Medical Supply for this generous mask donation which will go a long to ensure the protection of our patients and staff.”

Mayor Bowser thanked President Frederick and Howard University Faculty Practice Plan staff for stepping in to assist with bringing additional resources to the residents East of the River who live among some of the most highly impacted communities suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Howard University is an essential partner in our effort to build a more equitable health care system, and we are grateful that this testing site is delivering critical care and resources to our most vulnerable communities,” said Mayor Bowser. “We also appreciate the continued generosity of those like Armstrong Williams, and contributions like these go a long way toward supporting our front line workers.”

As a political pundit and talk show host, Williams said he hopes the mask donation will remind the community that we are all in this together and it’s about giving back. 

“Everyone is suffering during this time, particularly underserved communities,” said Williams. “I’m just thankful we have the capacity to make a difference in other people’s lives, especially those who need it most. I still remember what my mother and father taught us in that faithful home that we grew up in: ‘I am my brother’s keeper.’”

The Howard University Faculty Practice Plan began offering free coronavirus testing at its Benning Road Clinic (4414 Benning Road NE, Suite 2400, Washington, D.C.) on May 5 thanks to a $1 million grant from Bank of America. The grant will be used to improve access to COVID-19 testing in the diverse Washington, D.C. communities located east of the river. Beginning next week, testing will be available Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. D.C. Residents (especially those living in Ward 7 and 8) may make an appointment by calling 202-865-2119, option 3. The team of physicians will see patients who are showing symptoms, have been exposed, or who believe they are asymptomatic. Please bring your DC Government issued photo I.D. with you.

# # #

Photo cutline: (L toR): Steve Kalifa, director of Capital Medical Supply, Inc.; Dr. Hugh E. Mighty, Howard University VP of clinical affairs; Armstrong Williams, founder and sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings Broadcast; Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University; and Mayor Muriel Bowser, Washington, D.C.

Photo cutline 2: Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser display masks donated by political pundit Armstrong Williams and Capital Medical Supply, Inc. outside of Howard's new COVID-19 testing clinic in Ward 7.