Azure function apps with Python one time initialization

I'm using Azure function apps with Python. I have two dozen function apps that all use a Postgres DB and Custom Vision. All function apps are setup as HttpTriggers. Right now, when a function is triggered, a new database handler (or custom vision handler) object is created, used and terminated when the function app call is done.

It seems to be very counterproductive to instantiate a new objects on every single request that comes in. Is there a way to instantiate shared objects once and then pass them to a function when they are called?

from Azure function apps with Python one time initialization