Area tribes meeting on health issues

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation and other Southwestern tribes are meeting this week with the Department of Health and Human Services for their annual tribal consultation sessions.

Obesity, federal funding, and self-determined health care are among some of the Navajo Nation's priorities.

The tribe's top health care officials, Navajo Area Indian Health Service, and members of the Health and Social Services Committee have worked over the past few months to come up with a priority list.

The Inter-governmental Relations Committee approved the Navajo Nation's position paper on Monday and appointed Anselm Roanhorse Jr., director of the Navajo Nation's Division of Health, to advocate on behalf of the tribe during the upcoming consultation sessions.

Through these consultation sessions, now in their seventh year, tribes have a bigger input in how federal health care dollars are spent.

The consultation sessions, the position paper stated, results in improved communication between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and tribes and increases opportunities to partner with federal agencies and surround state health departments.

Since a report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has shed light on gross health care disparities between Native American tribes and other races, the Navajo Nation has pushed harder for increased federal funding.

"Federal funding has not kept pace with factors such as the rising costs of health care, increasing costs of pharmaceuticals, and competitive salaries for recruitment and retention of qualified health care professionals," the paper stated.

The lack of federal funding has spurred the Navajo Nation to add the following to its list of priorities:

• During 1996 through 1998, an annual average of 152 fatalities and 509 hospitalizations occurred on the Navajo Nation. Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among Navajos ages 1 years old through 54 years old. The Navajo Nation is requesting support of its trauma system development to reduce fatalities.
  
  
• Obesity in Navajo children has tripled in the past 20 years. The Navajo Nation is requesting support on school nutrition programs and government intervention to reduce cost of sugar-free drinks.
  
  
• Medicare Drug Cards can save Navajo Area Indian Health Service more than half a million dollars each year, money that can be used elsewhere. The Navajo Nation is requesting more training to implement the service.

The national tribal consultation meeting to formulate the 2007 budget of the Department of Health and Human Services will be held in May.

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com.