Arrival: Anchorage
Who said education had to be boring? Day one, the adventurers awoke in Anchorage at the Millenium Hotel. It was exciting to see the buzz of the Ididerod Dogsled race which was just wrapping up and had their headquarters at the hotel.
Over breakfast, Cheri Hample, Director of Health Services for the Chagachmiut health care consortium met with the group. She shared her wisdom of over 30 years experience serving indigenous people though out the United States. She explained how Alaskas 259 tribal organizations, many of them self governing nations, collaborate together to create consortiums and to provide health care to the indigenous people. The Alaskan Native population composes 20% of the total Alaskan population. Many tribes are located in remote locations and have very small populations, at times 60 people who can only be reached by plane. While there are small health care centers within the communities there are also regional centers and many times patients need to be transported to larger care centers to receive health care.
There were also discussions regarding the health disparities of all indigenous people around the world including: access to health care (a basic human right), diabetes, chemical abuse, and tobacco use. She states that the tobacco use in native Alaskans is self reported to be 62%. She also discussed sociocultural problems including homelessness and abuse including violence against women and children. Another major obstacle that the rural population face is the cultural change from sustenance to dependance and the loss of the role men have in the community. There are very few job opportunities, lack of education, and lack of industry in the region resulting in poverty, homelessness, chemical use, depression, all of which fuel the previously mentioned.
The Chugachmiut health system focuses on health and wellness promotion, disease prevention as well as primary care and the treatment of disease. This health care system has an innovative approach to health care. They employ a Community Health Aid program which trains community members to serve as primary care providers in their local community. The trainee program allows the practitioner to advance through a series of levels until they reach Community Health Aid Practitioner status. The consortium currently employs 13 of these practitioners. The tribes are also focusing on early health education, healthy indigenous living, and rejuvenation of original language with immersion programs.
Over breakfast, Cheri Hample, Director of Health Services for the Chagachmiut health care consortium met with the group. She shared her wisdom of over 30 years experience serving indigenous people though out the United States. She explained how Alaskas 259 tribal organizations, many of them self governing nations, collaborate together to create consortiums and to provide health care to the indigenous people. The Alaskan Native population composes 20% of the total Alaskan population. Many tribes are located in remote locations and have very small populations, at times 60 people who can only be reached by plane. While there are small health care centers within the communities there are also regional centers and many times patients need to be transported to larger care centers to receive health care.
There were also discussions regarding the health disparities of all indigenous people around the world including: access to health care (a basic human right), diabetes, chemical abuse, and tobacco use. She states that the tobacco use in native Alaskans is self reported to be 62%. She also discussed sociocultural problems including homelessness and abuse including violence against women and children. Another major obstacle that the rural population face is the cultural change from sustenance to dependance and the loss of the role men have in the community. There are very few job opportunities, lack of education, and lack of industry in the region resulting in poverty, homelessness, chemical use, depression, all of which fuel the previously mentioned.
The Chugachmiut health system focuses on health and wellness promotion, disease prevention as well as primary care and the treatment of disease. This health care system has an innovative approach to health care. They employ a Community Health Aid program which trains community members to serve as primary care providers in their local community. The trainee program allows the practitioner to advance through a series of levels until they reach Community Health Aid Practitioner status. The consortium currently employs 13 of these practitioners. The tribes are also focusing on early health education, healthy indigenous living, and rejuvenation of original language with immersion programs.
Top Row from left to right: Emily, Katie, Sam, Liz, Alissa
Bottom Row from left to right: Eric, Andrea, Kevin, Cheri Hample, Amanda, Tammy
Bottom Row from left to right: Eric, Andrea, Kevin, Cheri Hample, Amanda, Tammy