A village clinic where health aides resigned earlier this year, citing harassment and a lack of police protection, has reopened in the Western Alaska community of Nunam Iqua, the regional health corporation reports.
One health aide is back on the job and says things have improved, according to the Bethel-based Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.
"In recent meetings between (village police officers) and Nunam Iqua’s current Tribal Council leadership, there has been a stronger verbal commitment from Village Patrol Officers and Tribal Council members to support the clinic staff by accompanying them on after hours emergency calls and follow up on any threats or harassment that clinic staff may receive," YKHC says.
Here the full YKHC announcement from Friday. It says the long-shuttered Pitkas Point clinic has also re-opened:
According to Bill Schreiner, the Director of the Community Health Aide Program at YKHC, the Nunam Iqua clinic is once again operational under YKHC’s service of care. One Health Aide has staffed the clinic since it re-opened on June 21, 2010.
A Community Health Practitioner (CHP) has been working five days a week during regular business hours and serves as the sole Health Aide responsible for on-call emergencies in the village at this time.
In recent meetings between VPO’s and Nunam Iqua’s current Tribal Council leadership, there has been a stronger verbal commitment from Village Patrol Officers and Tribal Council members to support the clinic staff by accompanying them on after hours emergency calls and follow up on any threats or harassment that clinic staff may receive.
According to the elevated presence and support of Village Police Officers in partnership with the Alaska State Troopers, the returning CHP reported that “the situation has improved” and that she was “ready to return” to her position since the clinic shut down earlier this spring.
YKHC and Community Health Aide administrative staff have been in daily communication with the Nunam Iqua clinic and have asked the current CHP to communicate any and all threats not only to the VPOs and TC but also to YKHC’s CHAP administration. Continued efforts by the local Tribal Council are underway to train VPSOs in partnership with the State Troopers and AVCP.
Efforts are currently underway to recruit and hire a second Health Aide and Office Assistant.
In related news, the Pitka’s Point clinic is open and ready to provide patient care after several years of closure. At this time, Health Aide itinerants, or floats are currently staffing the clinic for acute, chronic, preventative and urgent care. Numerous YKHC departments and personnel have assisted in getting the Pitka’s Point clinic operational including Technology, Environmental Health, CHAP, Maintenance, and support staff and services from the Saint Mary’s sub regional clinic. The clinic has been leveled, cleaned, restocked and organized. Recruitment efforts to staff the Pitka’s Point clinic with a permanent Health Aide continues.
Nunam Iqua is a village of about 200 people, southwest of Emmonak on the Yukon River. Pitkas Point is a community of roughly 110 people 5 miles northwest of St. Mary's on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Related: Staff quits Nunam clinic; officials scramble to find solution (Alaska Newspapers Inc.)
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