Volume XIV No. 8 • August 15, 2009 Discovering the Delta... Bethel Traditional Chief Peter Jacobs and his grandaughter RaeLena Smith greet Obama Administration Cabinet Secretaries Arne Duncan (Education), Steven Chu (Energy), and Shaun Donovan (Housing & Urban Development) as they arrived at the Yupik Cultural Center in Bethel to learn about issues in Rural Alaska. Story on page 3. • Fish camp photo by Theresa Bean, YKHC Public Relations INSIDE: Sr. Fitness Day, p. 4 • Immunization Mo., p. 6 • Breastfeeding, p. 8 Volume XIV No. 8 • August 15, 2009 YKHC Board of Directors Unit 1 Unit 5 Raymond F. Waska, Sr. Bill Kristovich Chuloonawick P.O. Box 46 P.O. Box 1037 Kotlik Unit 11 Emmonak Billmore Slough Alakanuk Hamilton R Emmonak, Alaska 99581 Bethel, Alaska 99559 Grayling E Nunam Unit 1 I V 907-949-1514 907-543-4151/2212 Iqua R O McGrath Anvik K Paula Ayunerak Henry Hunter, Sr. Mountain Village Shageluk O St. MaryÕs N P.O. Box 5 P.O. Box 632 Scammon N Paimute I Bay PitkaÕs Andreafski Point Alakanuk, Alaska 99554 Bethel, Alaska 99559 Chevak Pilot Station Hooper Bay Holy Cross 907-238-3212 907-543-7963 Marshall YUKON RIVER Unit 9 Unit 2 Russian Mission Ohogomuit Crooked Gloria Simeon Creek Georgetown Unit 6 Upper Kalskag Aniak Stony River Unit 2 P.O. Box 308 Lower Chuathbaluk Newtok Kalskag Red Sleetmute Unit 8 Napaimute Devil Ray Alstrom Bethel, Alaska 99559 Nunapitchuk KUSKOKWIM RIVER Tuluksak R Tununak Kasigluk Akiak E P.O. Box 8 907-543-5676 Mekoryuk Toksook BayAtmautluak Bethel Unit 3 Umkumuit Akiachak Unit 4 I V Lime Village Marshall, Alaska 99585 Nightmute Napakiak Kwethluk R Joseph C. Bavilla Oscarville A Napaskiak N Unit 5 T 907-679-6320 P.O. Box 6011 I Chefornak Tuntutuliak L O James C. Landlord Napaskiak, Alaska 99559 Eek Unit 10 Kipnuk H P.O. Box 32168 907-737-7665 Kongiganak Unit 7 Kwigillingok Mt. Village, AK 99632 Quinhagak 907-591-2531 Unit 6 Unit 3 Esai Twitchell, Jr. P.O. Box 121 Goodnews Bay Wayne Morgan Kasigluk, Alaska 99609 Platinum P.O. Box 234 907-477-6309 Aniak, Alaska 99557 907-675-4264 Unit 7 Unit 9 Unit 11 George S. Morgan David O. David Patrick Tall Marvin Deacon P.O. Box 54 P.O. Box 78 P.O. Box 196 P.O. Box 45 Upper Kalskag, Alaska 99607 Kwigillingok, Alaska 99622 Chevak, Alaska 99563 Grayling, Alaska 99590 907-471-2490 907-588-8484 907-858-7613 907-453-5195 James Hoelscher Unit 4 Unit 8 P.O. Box 189 Honorary Board Member James Nicori James R. Charlie, Sr. Hooper Bay, Alaska 99604 Paul John P.O. Box 41 P.O. Box 37012 907-758-4616 P.O. Box 37067 Kwethluk, Alaska 99621 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637 907-757-6837 907-427-7114 Unit 10 907-427-74l4 Moses Peter James Sipary Sam W. Alexie P.O. Box 57 P.O. Box 37134 P.O. Box 57 Tuluksak, Alaska 99679 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637 Eek, Alaska 99578 907- 695-6426 907- 427-7816 907-536-5428 Numbers to Call YKHC Main Operator ..................................................543-6000 Subregional Clinic Appointments Toll Free ......................................................... 1-800-478-3321 Aniak .........................................................................675-4556 Public Relations ............................................................543-6037 Emmonak ..................................................................949-3500 Media Services .............................................................543-6038 St. Mary’s ..................................................................438-3500 Office of Environmental Health & Engineering .............543-6420 Toksook Bay..............................................................427-3500 Technology Help Desk ..................................................543-6070 Public Health Nursing ...................................................543-2110 Human Resources ........................................................543-6060 Pharmacy .....................................................................543-6382 Administration ...............................................................543-6020 Travel Management Center ..........................................543-6360 Hospital.........................................................................543-6300 WIC Program ................................................................543-6459 Emergency Room .........................................................543-6395 Health Services ...........................................................543-6024 Hospital Community Relations .....................................543-6350 Village Operations ........................................................543-6160 Social Services .............................................................543-6225 CHAP ........................................................................543-6160 Family Medicine Clinic Appointments ...........................543-6442 ICEMS .......................................................................543-6080 1-800-478-3321 Community Health & Wellness .................................543-6190 Dental Appointments ....................................................543-6229 Behavioral Health Services ..........................................543-6100 Optometry Appointments ..............................................543-6336 Phillips Ayagnirvik .....................................................543-6700 Audiology Appointments ...............................................543-6466 Village Services ........................................................543-6740 Home Care Services ....................................................543-6170 2 Volume XIV No. 8 • August 15, 2009 COMMUNITY & PARTNER SATISFACTION YKHC Board Obama Administration officials (and & Committee Meetings many more) visit the Bush 2009 August 20 Finance Committee August 20–21 Executive Board September 22 Finance Committee September 22–23 Governing Body October Finance Committee TBA A meeting of dignitaries: Back row, from left: US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, October Energy Secretary Steven Chu, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, YKHC Medical Director and Executive Board TBA Bethel Mayor Joe Klejka, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak, ONC Chair Ray Watson, Alaska Senator Mark Begich. Front: Bethel Traditional Chief Peter Jacobs, and YKHC Honorary November 17 Board Member Paul John. Finance Committee by YKHC Public Relations staff November 18 – 20 Full Board of Directors Four Obama Administration Cabinet Secretaries made a his- toric trip to Bethel and Hooper Bay on August 12 as part of a December 15 Finance Committee rural listening tour to learn more about how Washington D.C. can help sustain rural America. December 16 – 17 Executive Board After a four-hour delay due to fog and mechanical trouble, the Secretaries of Agriculture (Tom Vilsack), Education (Arne Duncan), Energy (Steven Chu), and Housing & Urban Develop- ment (Shaun Donovan) arrived at Bethel’s Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center around 12:30 p.m. The crowd, which had started gathering around 7 a.m., numbered about 300 and represented numerous entities and organizations throughout the state. The doors opened at 10 a.m. and The Messenger is produced by the feasting began prior to the Secretaries’ arrival, giving folks a chance to network with agencies Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s Public Rela- and other people for several hours. tions Department as a report to Tribal Members. It is published monthly on-line at www.ykhc.org/ A number of State officials were in attendance, including Education Commissioner Larry messenger and printed quarterly. For questions, comments, submission of articles, or subscription LeDoux and Governor Sean Parnell. Candidates who plan to, or are expected to, run for the information, write to Public Relations Senior Editor, Governor’s seat—Ethan Berkowitz, Bob Poe, and Hollis French—also attended. Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, P.O. Box 528, Bethel, Alaska 99559; or call 907-543-6035. E-mail: Some visitors took the opportunity to tour Bethel or mingle with representatives from entities [email protected]. Deadline is the last day of the such as the Rasmuson Foundation, the Denali Commission, the Alaska Native Health Board, month preceding publication. Publication is on the 15th of every month. Anchorage Office: and the Alaska Federation of Natives. 4700 Business Park Blvd. Suite E25, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. 907- Governor Sean Parnell attended the gathering for about 20 minutes while on his way to a pre- 677-2232. Please ask permission vious engagement with the Bethel Chamber of Commerce. He made a brief welcome speech to reprint articles or pictures. © and took the time to mingle with the crowd and speak to individuals in person. 2009, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. see VIP VISIT, p. 8 3 Community Health & Wellness Volume XIV No. 8 • August 15, 2009 Did you know? Did you know that diabetes is one of the most seri- ous health problems facing Americans today? Did you know that diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the nation and the 4th leading cause of death in the world? Did you know that there are about 23.6 million Americans with diabetes and another 57 million with pre-diabetes? Did you know that the number of Alaska Native peo- ple with diabetes nearly tripled from 1990 to 2004? Did you know that if current trends continue 1 in 3 children born today will develop diabetes in their life- August 19 time? The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program wants you to know! 12 – 2 p.m. We want you to know these and other facts about diabetes. Knowledge is power and we • Warm up at the Log Cabin have the power to prevent