inside: get ﬁ t!, p. 5 • smile, p. 6 • job fair, p. 8 ... · esai twitchell, jr. p.o. box 121...

April 4–5, 2007

Yupiit Piciryarait

Cultural Center

Bethel, Alaska

Long Term Care

Tegganeput

Mikelngurput-llu

Akanun

Aulukciqaput

INSIDE: Get fi t!, p. 5 • Smile, p. 6 • Job Fair, p. 8 • Doc Suess, p. 9 • PT on pain, p. 15

Traditional Chief and longtime YKHC Board Member Antone Anvil

was an outspoken advocate for a Bethel

nursing home. His voice still echoes from Tribal

Unity Gathering VI in 1998. See page 3 for

more about this year’s Tribal Unity Gathering.

(Photo by Michael Faubion)

Volume XII No. 3 • March 15, 2007

2

YKHC Board of DirectorsUnit 1Raymond F. Waska, Sr.P.O. Box 46Emmonak, Alaska 99581907-949-1514Paula AyunerakP.O. Box 5Alakanuk, Alaska 99554907-238-3213

Unit 2Ray Alstrom P.O. Box 8Marshall, Alaska 99585907-679-6320James C. LandlordP.O. Box 32168Mt. Village, AK 99632907-591-2119

Unit 3Billy MorganP.O. Box 72Aniak, Alaska 99557907-675-4457Angela MorganP.O. Box 243Aniak, Alaska 99557907-675-4413

Unit 4James Nicori P.O. Box 41Kwethluk, Alaska 99621907-757-6837Moses Peter P.O. Box 57Tuluksak, Alaska 99679907- 695-6420

Unit 5Bill Kristovich P.O. Box 1037 Bethel, Alaska 99559907-543-4151/2212Henry Hunter, Sr.P.O. Box 632Bethel, Alaska 99559907-543-5130Gloria SimeonP.O. Box 308 Bethel, Alaska 99559907-543-5676Joseph C. BavillaP.O. Box 6011Napaskiak, Alaska 99559907-737-7062

Unit 6Esai Twitchell, Jr.P.O. Box 121Kasigluk, Alaska 99609907-477-6309

Unit 7David O. DavidPO Box 78Kwigillingok, Alaska 99622907-588-8484

Unit 8James R. Charlie, Sr. P.O. Box 37012Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637907-427-7114James SiparyP.O. Box 37134 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637907- 427-7816

Unit 9Reuben HillP.O. Box 210Hooper Bay, Alaska 99604H: 907-558-4096 - W: 558-4711Moses J. Tulim P.O. Box 130Chevak, Alaska 99563907-858-7920

Unit 10Sam W. AlexieP.O. Box 57 Eek, Alaska 99578907-536-5428

Unit 11Kathy W. ChaseP.O. Box 41Holy Cross, Alaska 99602907-476-7162

Honorary Board MemberPaul JohnP.O. Box 37067 Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637907-427-74l4

Numbers to CallYKHC ......................................................................... 543-6000Public Relations .......................................................... 543-6030Media Services ............................................................ 543-6038Offi ce of Environmental Health & Engineering ......... 543-6420Technology Help Desk ................................................ 543-6070Human Resources ....................................................... 543-6060 Job Line ................................................................... 543-6443Administration ............................................................ 543-6020Hospital ....................................................................... 543-6300Emergency Room ........................................................ 543-6395Hospital Community Relations ................................... 543-6350Social Services ............................................................ 543-6225Family Medicine Clinic Appointments ....................... 543-6442 1-800-478-3321Dental Appointments .................................................. 543-6229Optometry Appointments ............................................ 543-6336Audiology Appointments ............................................ 543-6466

Subregional Clinic Appointments Aniak ....................................................................... 675-4556 Emmonak ................................................................ 949-3500 St. Mary’s ................................................................ 438-3500 Toksook Bay ............................................................ 427-7810Public Health Nurses ....................................................543-2110Pharmacy ..................................................................... 543-6382Travel Management Center ......................................... 543-6360WIC Program .............................................................. 543-6459Health Services .......................................................... 543-6024Village Operations ...................................................... 543-6160 CHAP ...................................................................... 543-6160 ICEMS ..................................................................... 543-6080 Community Health & Wellness ............................... 543-6190Behavioral Health Services ......................................... 543-6100 Phillips Ayagnirvik .................................................. 543-6700 Village Services ....................................................... 543-6740Home Care Services .................................................... 543-6170

Unit 10

Unit 5

Unit 7

Unit 8

Unit 9

Unit 1

Unit 11

Unit 3Unit 4

Unit 6

Unit 2

��

� ��

��

��

��

��

��

��!�� "��

"��#� ��

$��%��

&��

� &% '

(�$& ��

&

%' ��

��

'��

)��

*�� #

��

��

��+��

��

��,��#��

��

��(��#

*�� "��#

��&-��

��

��"��

(��

,��%��

*��. *��

"/�,��#. ��+ ��

*��"��,��

�� ,� ��

��

��#��

"��

0 �� & % '

�� #

��

��

,��

��

$��

(��#��

��

'��

,��%��

��

��

� � "��1 &, � & % '

'��


3

The Messenger is a monthly publication produced by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s Public Relations Department as a report to Tribal Members.For questions, comments, submission of articles, or subscription informa-tion, write to Messenger Editor, Media Services, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, P.O. Box 528, Bethel, Alaska 99559; or call 907-543-6035. E-mail: [email protected] is the last day of the month preceding publication. Publication is on the 15th of every month.The Messenger is also published on the World Wide Web at www.ykhc.org/messenger.Anchorage Offi ce: 4700 Business Park Blvd. Suite E25, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. 907-677-2232. Please ask permission to reprint articles or pictures.© 2007, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.

YKHC Board& Committee Meetings

2007March 20

Finance Committee

March 21Governing Body

April 4–5Tribal Gathering, Bethel

April 24Finance Committee

April 25–27Full Board of Directors Meeting

May 22Finance Committee

May 23Governing Body

June 26Finance Committee

June 27–28Executive Board

July 24Finance Committee

July 25Governing Body

August 21Finance Committee

August 22–23Executive Board

September 18Finance Committee

September 19Governing Body

October 23Finance Committee

Caring for Generations:Tribal Gathering XIVYKHC’s 14th annual Tribal Unity Gathering will take place April 4 and 5 at Bethel’s Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, and will draw over 100 Tribal Council delegates to discuss health care concerns.

Two Tribal Council members from each of our 58 tribes have been

invited to this year’s Gather-ing.

YKHC Board members, staff, leadership and guests will also be attending. The Tribal Gathering conference is YKHC’s primary venue for reporting on status and prog-ress to Tribal membership, and for establishing priorities for health care services.

A photo of the late Antone Anvil, ONC’s Traditional Chief, was chosen to illustrate this year’s Gathering theme of Long Term Care, “Teg-ganeput Mikelngurput-llu Akanun Aulukciqaput.” Antone was also a YKHC Board member for many years, and was perhaps the region’s strongest advocate for a nurs-ing home in Bethel.

An Assisted Living Home was a high priority for many Tribes at last year’s Gather-ing and YKHC’s Board of Directors has taken up the search for funding to make it a reality, following up with fi nding matching money for funding through the Denali Commission.

The theme of this year’s gathering not only focuses on Elderly care, but long-term care for our children who face growing up against serious health concerns. YKHC’s Senior Leadership Team identifi ed this theme to focus our discussion of health issues—the feasibility of constructing an assisted living facility in Bethel, concerns about the rising rates of Diabetes, Cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

The fi rst day of the gathering will feature updates on the status of health concerns

Participants ponder health issues relevant to all generations at last year’s Tribal Unity Gathering. (YKHC fi le photo)

see GATHERING, p. 13

4

Schools receive fi tness grantsby Sharon Lesan, RD, LD, CDE, Certifi ed Diabetes Educator

The Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DP&C) invited all YK Delta village organizations and schools to apply for physical activity project fund-

ing. The goal of these projects was to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diabetes and other chronic health conditions by increasing physical activity in the YK Delta.

Lack of physical activity is associated with an increased risk of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, as well as being overweight. This is important because diabetes and obesity are on the rise in the YK Delta.

Twelve schools in the region were awarded $5,000 each. Some of the funded programs and events include weekly exercise classes, skiing, roller/ice skating and competitions such as fun runs, Native dancing, snow games and hunting/fi sh-ing.

This month we are spotlighting Kalskag School, which received funding for a skating program. Following are exerpts from letters by the students there.

“Thank you for the money for the skates. I went to Friday Night Skate Night and played “Not It” with a rubber ball.” —BMM

“Over Christmas we skated at the High School. I was goalie and we had fun! It only cost $1.00.” —J

“We tried our rollerblades in our classroom. I got pink ones.” —ME“My Gram had diabaetes. I really like the skis that Mrs. M got us last year.

Thank you for everything you guys gave us.” —JT“We like to go on the lake with our skis that you gave us last year. —AE“Thank you for the

money so we can buy inline skates and hockey gear. Last winter we went on the river and stayed for one hour. It was -20 and I didn’t get cold one bit because I was having so much fun! “ —RK

“We use the skates, rollerblades and skis to exercise so we can pre-vent diabetes.” —FH

The Diabetes Preven-tion and Control Pro-gram is in the process of making exercise and physical fi tness funds available to additional schools before the end of the school year.

Be Fad Free for Nutrition MonthMarch is National Nutrition Month. This year the theme is “The Best Path to Fitness and Health is to be 100 percent Fad Free.”

Diet fads come and go, and some may help you lose weight—in the short term. You can lose weight on virtually any diet. If you eat less, you will lose weight. The question is, can you maintain a healthy lifestyle over the long term—your life?

The real key to reaching long-term goals is to focus on your overall health. Try the following “Fad Diet” quiz.

1. What is a fad?A. Bellbottoms and polyesterB. Pet rocksC. Low carb/high protein dietsD. All of the above

2. Which fad diet was originally published in

1825 but is still popular today?A. Cabbage Soup DietB. Grapefruit DietC. Low-Carbohydrate DietD. Banana and Skim Milk Diet

3. A diet that recommends the following

should raise a red flag:A. Special food or drink to detoxify the bodyB. Eating a specific food with all meals C. Eating protein and carbohydrates at separate mealsD. All of the above

5. Some diet fads work. True / False

6. What popular cracker was originally

created as part of a health-food diet?A. Cheese crackersB. Saltine crackersC. Graham crackersD. Animal crackers

Answers on page 11.

Left: Brian Hetherington skis in the trees as part of the afternoon ski program (right) at Zackar Levi School in Lower Kalskag. Photo courtesy of Sue McDonnell.


5

by Spruce Lynch, Health Education Program Dir.Let’s face it. We all lead busy lives. Between work and home,

there are so many demands on our time; the last thing any reason-able person wants to do is MORE. Before I came to Bethel, I was caught in that vicious cycle: work, home, work, home and an occa-sional day of rest.

Since I don’t own a car, I have to walk every day to work. At fi rst, I was very annoyed by the fact that I had to get up an extra hour early. Then, I was annoyed that I had to walk to work in all kinds of weather. When the temperature plummeted to freezing, I began to think of how I could buy a car.

However, I also began to notice that I was feeling better. My clothes were fi tting more comfortably. I was sleeping more soundly. Good things were happening because I was walking every day. The funny thing was that I didn’t even think of it as daily physical activity. I simply did it.

Physical activity does not have to be a strenuous, exhaustive workout. All you need to do is get moving. Make a commitment to do something for 30 minutes a day. When you start out, it does not

have to be 30 minutes all at once. Break it up into bits and pieces until you can go for longer periods of time. You can stretch, walk, play with the children in your life, do yoga, DO anything. Some-times, it helps to have a partner, but it is also nice to have “alone” time.

Any activity you do on a daily basis can be turned into physical activity by the way you do it. For example, something as simple as tying your shoes can be turned into a stretching event. Instead of only bending over to tie your shoe, stretch your leg out in front of you and stretch your arms out to reach your shoes. Then, do the same thing for the other shoe.

If you watch television at the end of the day, pick your legs up and hold them out in front of you for a count of ten, then lower them slowly. Move your legs in a scissors motion. Again, you don’t have to do any of these activities to exhaustion. After all, you work hard during the day and you deserve a rest.

You also deserve to be healthy. The more you DO the healthier you will BE. The healthier you are the more you will enjoy your

Winter Activity in Bethel

Winter provides an enchanting variety of activities, includ-ing skiing, snowshoeing, and dog mushing, where the sound of crunching snow and tickle of snow crystals upon

your nose can be a beautiful experience. However, not everyone enjoys fi ghting the frigid wind-chill of Alaska.

The good news is that Bethel has many opportunities for those who usually don’t get much exercise during the winter. Even though someone gets plenty of exercise in the summer during the peak of fi sh camps and berry picking, skipping out during the winter can put people at risk for poor health and even heart disease.

There are several indoor activities offered in Bethel, listed below. These activities provide an effective recipe of duration and intensity and are a great way to be active with family and friends. Other ways to get active include calisthenics and using inexpensive equipment to get your heart rate up in the comfort of your own home. For less than $30, you can purchase such things as stability balls, exercise DVDs, dumbbell sets, and much more.

Many people are confused as to why they are not losing weight or are being told they have poor health even though they are active during the warmer months of the year. Even for health maintenance, the body needs consistent exercise. Staying active in the winter may be the best thing someone can do to maintain health and fi tness all year long. With a little creativity and enough desire, anyone has the ability to stay active during winter.

For more information on winter activities, types of equipment, or anything relating to exercise, call Ben Marx at 543-6904 or email him at [email protected]. As the case manager for Healthy Hearts and as an exercise physiologist, he is glad to help anyone choosing to better their lives with physical activity.

Make the most of your winter…get up and get active!Call Ben for more details on the following indoor winter opportu-nities:• Community Fun Run and

Walk and Talk: March 24• Bethel Youth Center Gym• Ballroom Dancing with Ches-

ter Mark• Circuit Training and Pilates at

Covenant Church• Curves for Women• Open Gym Basketball at

ME• KUCC Continuing Educa-

tion Judo and Exercise Classes

• Dancing and Fitness Classes at On Your Marx Performance and Dance Studios

Health Education

Take time for exercise—You’ll feel better!

There’s still plenty of winter left for some cross-country skiing on the river.

see EXERCISE, p. 12

6

Polish up your smile for Smile Alaska Style at Camai

YKHC’s Dental Department This year’s Smile Alaska Style, YKHC’s long-running dental health promotion campaign, will once again be held during the Camai Dance Festival, on March 31.There will be a room set up for free dental screenings where people will also get free dental goody bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste and fl oss. Look for the big “Smile Alaska Style” sign. Each participant will have a photograph taken and will be entered in the “Smile Contest.”The Best Smile of the Year will win a grand prize and his/her picture will be on posters, in the newspaper and in future dental health advertisements and promotions. Every contestant will get a chance at one of many door prizes donated by local business sponsors.So bring your smile.. and dress Alaska Style!

SMILE ALASKA STYLSMILE ALASKA STYLEESaturday, March 31Saturday, March 31

Camai Dance Festival at Bethel Camai Dance Festival at Bethel

Regional High SchoolRegional High School

Noon – 2:30 p.m.Noon – 2:30 p.m.

Fourth Annual Sealant Clinic

First Grade smiles protected with fl uoride at ME School

February was National Children’s Dental Health Month. To cel-ebrate, the Dental Disease Prevention Program at YKHC teamed up with the staff at Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat and Ayaprun Elitnau-

rvik Elementary schools in Bethel to provide dental screenings, sealants and fl uoride treatments for fi rst graders.

A dental sealant is a plastic like material that is placed on the chew-ing surfaces of the back teeth to fi ll in the grooves that trap plaque and create a smooth surface that is easier to keep clean. This age group was selected because their fi rst permanent molars have recently come in, and the sooner a sealant is placed the less chance of decay. Sealants have a lifetime of perhaps three to fi ve years or longer. This is a pain-less procedure that the children tolerate well.

The children also received oral hygiene instructions and all were given a new toothbrush, fl uoride tooth paste, and special pencils.

A special thank you to Principals Carlton Kuhns and Agatha John Shields, secretary Kathleen Naneng, School Nurse Grace Haas, P-E teacher Mike Lucas and the rest of the staff at M-E Elementary School for making this event a success. Ninety-fi ve students were screened and 314 sealants were placed for 84 children.

Thanks to the dental staff from YKHC Dental Department: Dental Health Aide Therapist Conan Murat, Dental Hygienists Rong Li and Bob Ward, and Dental Assistants Denise Anvil, Lovina Lupie, Kaleb Kusayak and Nancy King.

YKHC Dental Disease Prevention Program 907-543-6229

Dental Assistant Denise Anvil and Hygienist Bob Ward conduct a dental screening and sealant application during Children’s Dental Health Month.


7

Remembering Magdalene “Maggie” Smith, Culugpakby Danielle Dizon

Our early health care workforce may seem like a distant time in history. Many people,

like Maggie Smith, whose service across the Delta had a major impact in our communities, are never forgotten by the patients who were comforted and cared for during a time when health care was in its beginning.

Since the recent passing of Maggie, former Health Aide and Elder of Hooper Bay, we remember and honor 20 years of health care service she gave to our people.

Remembered as someone with a special touch and tone of voice that made all her patients feel comfortable and calm, one patient put Maggie’s service into simple words, “I felt like a queen in her care.”

Maggie’s career as a Health Aide began in 1955 as a volunteer who helped care for her community during a time when the TB epi-demic hit the Delta. In 1961, she was hired by RuralCAP as a Com-munity Health Aide alongside Pauline Mann-Green, Antonia Olson, and Lena Lake. They were the fi rst generation and forefront of the health care workforce for Hooper Bay.

Maggie was born in 1935 to Jonathan Johnson and Flora Mann and raised traditionally as the third oldest of 16 siblings. She attended the BIA school until the eighth grade and married Rudolph Smith in 1956, raising seven children.

Maggie continued to care for her community when CHAP became part of YKHC in 1969, and after 20 years of service, she was awarded Health Aide of the Year by Senator Ted Stevens in 1989.

Maggie’s daughter Linda recalls her mother’s concern whenever she was called upon. “I remember my mother when I was a little girl, whenever someone or a VPSO would come into our house saying they needed a health aide now, without saying anything, she would storm out with whoever came to pick her up. I always wanted to go with her and help her, but she would say no.”

Though Maggie retired from her position in 1996, she continued to help the clinic staff during emergency calls and she often called for advice and medical guidance. She was always a great source for medical knowledge.

At age 71, Maggie passed away on January 16, 2006. She left behind her family, including 35 grandchildren and 26 great-grand-children, and the many patients who she cared about dearly.

“Our mother was calm, patient and always teasing her patients to share a smile and laugh with them. I never heard my mom complain about her job, she was always an open, yet calm and quiet health aide,” added Linda. “She told me whenever there’s emergency calls, always stay calm, because if you’re not calm, something major will happen to the patient. If you’re calm, you will think better and your care will fl ow easy for you and your patient. This is the best advice my mother has given me that helps me day in and day out with my patients.”

Special thanks to Linda Matchian, who contributed greatly to this article.

Maggie Smith, right, with her grandson Marlin Matchian, whom she called “Sunrise.” Marlin is overseas in Iraq now. (photo courtesy of Linda Matchian)

8

YKHC recruits at the largest job fair in the Delta

Hundreds of people strolled through the Cultural Center on March 2 for the YK Delta Job Center’s 5th Annual

Career Fair.

Many partnering organizations, including YKHC and other regional agencies such as AVCP, Calista, CVRF and others, participated in the event to showcase a world of career opportunities to our Delta residents.

Five YKHC employees participated in a health career panel in an effort to steer more students into the health career workforce, sharing their educational and job experiences. Students from as far as Akiak traveled in to Bethel to attend the event.

Eva Malvich, Employee Relations Specialist; Merrilyn Blackmore, Radiologic Technologist; Jay Jacobson, Registered Nurse; Teresa Flores, Physician Assistant; and Bob Ward, Dental Hygienist, profi led themselves and their positions, encourag-ing more students from our local areas to join our health care workforce.

YKHC’s Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) Career Pathways Program shared health career information along with scholarship and job shadow opportuni-

ties.YKHC’s Human

Resources staff was also there collecting applica-tions and handing out our listing of more than 100 vacant positions.

To learn more about job opportunities at YKHC or to apply online, please visit our website at www.ykhc.org, or call 543-6060 to request a job listing and application.

If you’re a high school student interested in health career opportunities at YKHC, the Career Pathways Program can help you learn more about healthcare occupations, what schools are available closest to home, scholarship informa-tion and even what courses could benefi t you now while you’re still in school.

Call the Career Pathways Program at 543-6986 to learn more or to request a visit in your community!

A note on YKHC’s Native hire policy

YKHC is a Native Preference organization, authorized under Title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, also known as PL#93.638, to hire and train American Indi-ans and Alaskan Natives to the greatest extent feasible. All applica-tions for skilled employee positions are reviewed by the Native

Hire and Employment Manager, Wally Richardson, and appropriate recommendations made to the hiring committees.

“As always, my door is always open,” Richardson said. “My phone number is 543-6017 and I am always willing to talk about your concerns.”

In future Messengers, we will explain more about YKHC’s Native hire policy.

Career Pathways Manager Nancy Widrig with 12th grader Emily Chagluak from Toksook Bay.

Three young ladies from Akiak check out the career opportu-nities at YKHC: Deliliah Nicolai, 12 grade; Charity Owen, 11th grade; and Erlene Jones, 12 grade.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.ykhc.org


9

Dr. Seuss lives on!Early literacy emphasized with annual reading of “The Cat in the Hat” and other Seuss classics

Ayaprun and Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat students celebrat-ed Dr. Seuss’ birthday over a nice book and scrump-tious cake on March 2. YKHC’s EPSDT (Early Peri-

odic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment) Program partnered with M.E. and Ayaprun Elitnaurvik schools to read to kids.

In the spirit of celebration, readers dressed in “cat in the hats” read to children. Along with Bethel’s Mayor, Dan Lein-berger, Fire Chief George Young, and other members from the Bethel City Council and State Troopers, some of our own employees were able to take time on March 2nd to read to kin-dergarten and fi rst and second grade students.

EPSDT supports early literacy. EPSDT Coordinator Elena Herrera says the best way to get children interested in books is to read to them. As the pictures on this page show, the kids are delighted with Dr. Seuss.

A big thanks to Greg McIntyre, Vice President for Support Services; Debbie Michaels, Health Educator; Elena Herrera, EPSDT Coordinator; Ed Buckley, Human Resources Director; and Jesse Gunlik, Basic Training Instructor, for being involved in this event and taking the time to read to the little ones.

Great job to Nena and Barbara Tompkins with EPSDT who planned and provided all the hats, books and cakes for the children and readers!

Health Educator Debbie Michaels and Panigkaq Shields, Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Administrator, get ready to eat cake with Cucuaq Cooke’s fi rst grade class.

Above: Support Services Vice President Greg McIntyre brings the “Cat in the Hat” to life. Below: Basic Training Instructor Jesse Gunlik reads while the children (lower left) look on with rapt attention. (photos by Danielle Dizon.)

10

Be Safe—Check for old medicine

Hospitals and patients across the country observed National Patient Safety Week

March 5–9, looking at ways we all can work together to help stop medical errors on “a road taken together.” One way patients can take an active role in eliminating medical errors is to clean out their own medicine cabinets.

The often-overlooked medicine cabinet may hold old, unused medicine that can be a health risk. Here are some tips on how to protect your-self from potential hazards:

Most people store their medication in the bathroom. Bathrooms have a tendency to get hot and damp and the humidity often causes the medication to break down. If you must store your medicine in the bathroom, follow these tips:• Always store the medicine in a cool, dry place.• Keep medications off of the counter and out of

the reach of children and pets.• Always check the expiration date on your

medication. This includes over-the-counter medicine and herbal products.

• Disposed of expired medication. When tossing old medicine, flush down the toilet to prevent ingestion by children and pets.

• Don’t forget that eye drops expire like any other medication. They have a tendency to harbor bacteria after the expiration date and may lose potency and become toxic.

• To decrease confusion, (wrong dose, wrong medicine) get rid of medicine such as painkill-ers that are no longer being used. This will keep the medicine out of the wrong hands.

• You should never have any antibiotics left. Antibiotics are supposed to be taken until completion. Not finishing your antibiotics and taking them for various other illnesses can pose potential health problems.

• Always purchase products in childproof con-tainers.

• Be sure that medications, chemicals, cleaning agents, and other potentially hazardous materi-als are out of the reach of children and pets.

• Be aware of the possible dangers of cosmetic

see MEDICATIONS, p. 12

Tobacco Company Advertising—They want to hook you Provided by the National Tribal Tobacco Prevention Network, a project of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.

The goals of tobacco advertising are to get youth to start smoking, to get smok-ers to switch brands, to get the public to recognize brand names, to build brand

loyalty, and to get people familiar and comfortable with tobacco products in their everyday lives.

To target American Indians for future customers, some tobacco companies use American Indian images and cultural symbols in their advertising, such as warriors, feathers, regalia and words like “natural” in the brand names.2

Tobacco advertising includes pow-wow give-aways and promotional items, bill-boards, magazine ads for cigarettes or dip, clothes ads in which people are smoking or dipping, rodeo and other sport and team sponsorships, samples, store signs and dis-plays (which are often placed at a child’s eye-level,) coupons, movies in which people are using tobacco, and entertainment sponsorships.

Natural American Spirit Cigarettes are not owned or made by American Indians. In fact, the company is owned and the cigarettes are manufactured by the second-largest tobacco company in the U.S—R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which makes about one of every four cigarettes sold in the United States.3

To build its image and credibility in the community, the tobacco industry funds cul-tural events such as powwows and rodeos.8

The tobacco industry spends $11.2 billion per year advertising their products, that’s $30.7 million per day or $21,319 per minute—more than any U.S. industry except automobile makers.1,7

Children and teenagers make up the majority of all new smokers, and the tobacco industry’s advertising and promotion campaigns target young people.4

Marlboro is the cigarette brand preferred by 50 percent of teenage smokers, fol-lowed by Newport and Camel.5 These are the brands most heavily advertised in the U.S.6 For more information, call 503.228.4185 or visit the website: www.tobaccopre-vention.net. Funded by CDC, grant #U1A DP000556-01. Sources:

1. FTC. Cigarette Report for 2001, 2003.

2. American Medical Women’s Association (press release) National Coalition FOR Women AGAINST Tobacco Launches Defense Against the Tobacco

Industry. 1999.

3. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company Website, Inside RJT, http://www.rjrt.com/IN/COwhoweare_corpfactbook.asp, accessed September 27, 2004.

4. Belluzzi JD, Lee AG, Oliff HS, Leslie FM. Age-dependent effects of nicotine on locomotor activity and conditioned place preference in rats.

Psychopharmacology, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-003-1758-6, 2004.

5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2002 Detailed Tables,

Tobacco Brands. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies; 2003.

6. CDC. Changes in cigarette brand preferences of adolescent smokers—United States, 1989–1993. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1993.

7. DHHS. Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. DHHS, CDC 2000.

8. DHHS. Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups —African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. DHHS. CDC, 1998.


11

The fl u season continues—It’s not too late to be vaccinated

Update on the Respiratory Virus Study By Lori Pruitt, BSN, RN, YKHC Infection Control Nurse and Ros Singleton, MD, ANTHC Immunization Consultant

The Respiratory virus study (RVS) is an exciting study YKHC is working on in collaboration with the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consor-tium (ANTHC).

The project began in October 2005 and its purpose is to fi nd out what viruses are causing lung infections in our hospitalized children less than 3 years of age. We are testing for eight different viruses and pertus-sis (the germ causing whooping cough).

Pat Barrett, Lori Pruitt, and Mary Jackson are three people working with this study in Bethel. They check the inpatient unit (Northwing) every day for children hospitalized with lung infections.

The nurses working on the inpatient unit are a great help by asking the parents if one of the research team can come talk to them about the study. If they say yes, then one of the team speaks with the parent, obtains consent, and completes the study. The study takes about 15 minutes and includes swab-bing the child’s nose and asking the parent a few questions.

Almost 280 children have been enrolled as of the end of January. Last winter the main virus causing children to be in the hospital was the respiratory syncytical virus (RSV). The highest numbers of children with RSV

and the fl u were seen in January and Febru-ary last year.

There were also several cases of para-infl uenza (a common cause of croup), and metapneumovirus (a new virus that is simi-lar to RSV). Last summer there were sev-eral cases of pertussis in villages as well.

During the fall of 2006 parainfl uenza virus was the most common virus identifi ed in the study. Cases of RSV started increas-ing this year in January. Infl uenza (Flu) has

been late this year, but in the past three weeks the State lab has getting pos-itive infl uenza cultures from places all around Alaska so we expect to start seeing positive infl uenza samples.

Since November of 2006 YKHC and CDC nurses have been travel-ing to villages to enroll

healthy children under 3 years of age in the RVS study to see what viruses are present among them. So far, more than 200 children have been enrolled and only a few of them were positive for a virus—including RSV, parainfl uenza, and metapneumovirus. We have also had the opportunity to take vac-cine out to villages as we go and have been giving immunizations as time allows.

The RVS study will end in October of 2007. We would like to thank all the par-ents and children who have participated in the study. We would also like to thank the inpatient staff and the village clinic staff for

all their hard work to help make this study successful.

By learning which viruses are affect-ing our children, we hope to fi nd ways to decrease the number of children admitted to the hospital with lung infections. This helps us achieve our mission at YKHC, “working together to achieve excellent health.”

If you are interested in having your healthy child under 3 years old participate in the study, we will be visiting 30 villages by October. Look for a letter in your mailbox to see if we will be in your village. If you live in the Bethel area and want your healthy child under 3 years old to participate, please call Mary at 543-6436, Lori at 543-6303, or Pat at 543-6321.

(Juneau, Alaska) — Dozens of new positive rapid infl uenza reports have been received by the Section of Epidemiology. The good news is it’s still not too late to be vaccinated against infl u-enza. The vaccine takes about two weeks to become effective, and continues to protect against the disease for about one year.

“Although infl uenza activity has been low so far this year, we have seen a great increase in reported cases [in February],” said Dr. Jay Butler, Public Health Director. “Sometimes the fl u season just starts a little late—we are not out of the woods yet. There could still be a lot of fl u in Alaska over the next two to three months, and it is not too late to get a fl u shot.”

It is recommended that individuals who normally receive infl uenza vaccine but who may have deferred on behalf of those

at highest risk should now request the vaccine while supplies last. Healthcare workers and those who live with or care for more vulnerable people, such as infants, the elderly, or people with chronic diseases, should also be vaccinated to decrease the chance of transmitting infl uenza.

Vaccine availability may vary by location around the state. Anyone seeking a fl u shot should check with their local health provider or public health center about vaccine availability in their area.

For additional information on infl uenza go to:DPH Section of Epidemiologywww.epi.alaska.gov/id/infl uenza/fl uinfo.htm

Bethany Guy from Kwethluk “reads up” on a lung infection study being conducted by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), YKHC and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

So far, more than 200 children have been enrolled and only a few of them were positive for a virus...

12

The Dangers of Microwave Cooking

products. Infants and children can choke on baby powder.

Remember your medicine cabinet can be a dangerous place if it is fi lled with old, unused medication. Instead of holding on to that medi-cine, just trash it.

REMINDERPrevention of all medical problems is probably not possible. So, if

prevention is not possible, then preparation is the next best option. Maintaining a current list of your medications in a convenient loca-tion will prevent you from having to search for them during an emergency or when you need to see the doctor. When discussing your healthcare with your doctor or nurse, you will need to provide this information. Having it available can prevent delays in treatment, potential drug interactions, or serious complications.

MEDICATIONS, from p. 10

Microwaving—Useful or dangerous to our health?Almost 90 percent of American homes have microwave ovens. Since the introduction of this magical appliance, numerous studies around the world have been conducted to evaluate its usefulness as well as its dangers. Microwave ovens regularly provoke fears about unwanted health effects on humans.

One of the fears that most commonly surfaces is the use of plastic containers or wrap when reheating food. Some studies have shown that the combination of electro-magnetic radiation and the unwanted chemicals migrating from plastic cookware or food packages to the food have some deleterious effects on human health. The effect is more serious from fatty food cooked at high temperature. These chemicals are considered to be highly toxic, with known health haz-ards ranging from birth defects to cancer.

Some suggestions to make it safer:• Use only plastic containers or packaging labeled ‘Microwave

Safe.’• Plastic wrap should not come into direct contact with food when

microwaving.• If you use paper towels, choose the plain white kind, not coloured

or recycled fibers containing dyes or chemicals.

Microwaves—What we should be aware of

Every microwave oven leaks electro-magnetic radiation that harms the food and converts substances cooked in it to danger-

ous organ-toxic and carcinogenic products. Micro ovens are far more harmful than previously imagined. Taken from researched works done by German and Russian scientists, here are some rea-sons NOT to use the microwave ovens:• Continually eating foods processed from a microwave oven causes

long term, permanent brain damaged by “shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain.

• The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

• Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths (tumors). This may explain the rapid increased rate of colon cancer in America.

• Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and serum alterations.

• Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability and a decrease of intelligence.

• Minerals, vitamins and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

• The human body cannot metabolize (break down) the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.

• The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual (long term, permanent) within the human body.

Excerpted from: “A Health Freedom Resources, Public Awareness Announcement #1 – June 2000, Radiation Ovens—The Proven Dan-gers of Microwaves.”Also information from the Forensic Research Document, prepared by William P. Kopp, A.R.E.C. Research Operations. TO61-7R10/10-77F05. Write-ups by: Anthony Wayne and Lawrence Newell.healthfree.comFor more information regarding microwaving go to: www.micro-wavecooking.com/plasticizers.htm and www.jrusselshealth.com/microwaves.html

“Forget-Me-Not”Your community support group for and about cancer.

Esther “Bunny” [email protected]

life. Think of all the things you do every day and ask yourself, “How can I do this to get more exercise?” Instead of taking an elevator, walk up the stairs. Instead of taking a cab to the store, consider walking. If you sit at a desk, practice sitting up straighter.

You will begin to notice some of the positive things I did once I started getting more exercise. You will feel better, look better and even perform better, whether you are at work fulfi lling your duties or at home playing with family.

For the rest of your life, you will be healthier and happier and you may not have to take so much medicine. You have lots of family and friends who care about you. Get more exercise today so you can share time with your loved ones tomorrow.

EXERCISE, from p. 5


13

Answers to Fad Free Quiz (p. 4)1. Answer: D. We all make mistakes. And if you’ve followed any of the fads—A, B or C—you’ve had lots of company. Fads are trends that seem like a good idea at the time, but often in hindsight are just the opposite. The most important lesson about fads is to avoid repeat-ing them!

2. Answer: C. The low-carbohydrate diet has been around since 1825 when Jean Brillat-Savarin introduced it as the key to weight loss in his book The Physiology of Taste. Many decades and several varia-tions later, low-carb diets are still among the most popular fad diets. Giving this diet another chance has never been shown to improve long-term health.

3. Answer: D. Requiring a specifi c food or beverage to be included with each meal or eating certain types of foods sep-arately are clues to spotting a fad diet. There are no miracle foods or beverages that can lead to quick weight loss or stop you from aging.

4. Answer: True. But only for the short-term. You may lose some pounds quickly; however, long-term maintenance of that loss is unlikely. Dieters often return to old eating habits and regain the weight they lost. Developing an eating plan for lifelong health, combined with regular physical activity, is the best way to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

5. Answer: C. Sylvester Graham may be the originator of food fads in the U.S. Beginning in 1830, he promoted a bland, meat-free diet and avoidance of rich pastries, alcohol, coffee and tea. Eating his whole wheat Graham bread was best. Graham crackers are his contribution to healthy eating.

from 2006, including the Assisted Living Home, CT Scanner and the Dental Health Aide Therapist pro-gram. Corporate Medical Director Joe Klejka will also be presenting the Health Status report for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.

A special Small Community Emer-gency Operation Planning workshop will also be held during lunch on both days, presented by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Pete Petram.

“I will be introducing your del-egates to their emergency manage-ment responsibilities under State law and discussing available tools to help them meet those responsibilities,” said Petram, “This is also consistent with ANTHC’s vision that Alaska Natives will someday be the healthi-est people in the world.”

GATHERING, from p. 3

The second day will feature the “main event” of the Gathering, with the establishment of health care priorities for 2007. Each region’s delegates, YKHC program directors and administrators will confront major health concerns facing the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta: Diabetes, AIDS/HIV and STDs, and Cancer, and discuss the long term care measures of prevention and treatment of these health concerns.

A community potluck will be held on the evening of the fi rst day, April 4, beginning at 6:30 with the Slough Beat Band fi ddle group. This will be an opportunity for people to see old friends, get reacquainted, and for Bethel to welcome guests from surrounding villages.

Participants from Unit 1 fi nalize their priorities at last year’s Tribal Unity Gathering.

14

46th Annual

WORLD ESKIMO INDIAN OLYMPICS

The WEIO Board of Governors invites you to attend

WEIO 2007 in Anchorage!

Traditional games, dancing, arts and crafts!

The World Eskimo Indian Eskimo Olympics

is proud to host a drug and alcohol free event!

Wednesday - Saturday July 18 – 21, 2007

Sullivan Arena 1600 Gambell Avenue

Anchorage, Alaska, USA

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

WEIO Office: 907.452.6646 Fax: 907.456.2422 Cell: Perry: 907.978.8084 Katrin: 907.378.5142

Email: [email protected]

www.weio.orgDownload registration forms from our website!


15

How can exercise help my pain?by Anne Kosacheff, YKHC Physical therapist

This column is a special segment of our trip through the human body. One thing

that everyone who visits the Physical Therapy department has in common is some type of pain.

Some have slipped and fallen, some have injured a body part while playing sports, or had an accident of some type. Still others have undergone surgery for medical reasons. The end result of all of these incidents is ongoing pain, and/or, loss of function. Regardless of the site of the injury/surgery or accident, Physical Therapy can help people regain their quality of life, and return to their previous level of function.

Exercise is a large part of the Physical Therapy experience. We teach everyone who visits us at least one exercise to help them manage their pain. Most people can become pain-free with a combi-nation of therapy and exercise.

There are some people who will have some level of pain for a prolonged period, even with the best therapy, the best medicine, and the best exercise programs available. It is important for them to be familiar with exercises and stretches to manage their pain, rather than resolve it quickly.

There are two distinct types of pain: Acute and Chronic. Acute pain is experienced for a relatively short time after an injury. During this time (about three months), the body goes through several stages of healing. The gradual progression of the healing processes results in strong, fl exible, functional tissues. There are medicines available that help the body heal, many of which help to block the pain sensa-tions. This allows the muscles to relax, and blood to fl ow through the capillary beds. When the blood fl ow is restricted, the healing process can slow down. This can lead to chronic pain.

Chronic pain is defi ned as pain that “outlasts the usual healing process.” The “usual healing process” is determined to be three to six months in duration.

Most of us heal up, carry on and leave our injury behind us as we go on with our lives. There are times, however, during the healing process, that soft tissue scars over, a muscle or other connective tissue shortens up or becomes weak, or the infl ammatory process just continues, instead of healing. Exercise and stretching are the best way to fi x these problems.

Unfortunately, exercise can make us sore. Stretching and strength-ening a muscle that has not worked properly for over three to six months will be uncomfortable. Any time you work muscles you have not used for a while, your muscles get irritated and infl amed,

and need time to heal again. Gentle rehabilitation over time can give you a strong foundation to recover from even the longest period of chronic pain. Pain medicines are good tools to use to get you through the initial rehabilitation process.

Physical Therapy has many alternatives to chronic use of strong pain medicines. Often, people receiving Physical Therapy services are able to decrease the amount of pain medicines they need, or can change to a different medicine. Be sure to talk to your primary pro-vider about any change in medication, and to get medical clearance before undertaking any new exercise program.

We are happy to answer any questions you have. Feel free to call the Physical Therapy Department at 1-800-478-3221, ext 6342, or email us at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] .


Non -Profi t Org.

US Postage

PAIDAnchorage, AK

Permit # 537

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health CorporationP.O. Box 528Bethel, Alaska 99559907-543-6000

www.ykhc.org

t

Customer Comment—“Health Aides and Providers were concerned and professional”

• Village Clinics• Subregional Clinics• Bethel Hospital

• Residential Facilities• Home Care• Aeromed Air Ambulance

inside: get ﬁ t!, p. 5 • smile, p. 6 • job fair, p. 8 ... · esai twitchell, jr. p.o. box 121...

Documents