The Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians reside in the remote Arizona strip of the Colorado River bordering on Utah. The Kaibab Indian Reservation is 75 miles away from most medical services required for the treatment or prevention in St. George, Utah. We are part of the Hopi Health Care Center--Indian Health Service Unite 250 miles away in Polacca, Arizona. Due to the long distance from our reservation , services from the health clinic is not possible. Therefore our tribal members receive care from doctors and facilities in St George, Kanab Utah. The tribe performs community-based services through the support of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians.
The Kaibab Band of Paiute Indian continues to be burdened by the debilitating effects of diabetes. One of the greatest threats facing the population is the incidence of childhood obesity and its propensity of developing into diabetes. Some tribal members refuse to acknowledge the existence of diabetes and choose to ignore the symptoms. Continuing needs are for diabetes awareness, participation in the physical activities, nutritional meal planning and treatment of depression. There are many challenges facing our community to keep this serious disease from worsening and happening at an early age. Staff recruitment, the lack of resources and the need for an on-site clinic are a few of our most difficult obstacles. Our Tribal Council is committed to support our program since it started in 1998, and structure the staff under the Community Health representative Department. Our key staff member is the CHR Health Director who has worked in the health department for 20 years and know the target group members on a personal level. All our Community Health Representatives and tribal program staff's work in coordination on activities and support each other when needed. We have established partnerships with many health care professionals, medical centers and fitness specialists. The Diabetes Program Coordinator as well as other staff , schedule medical, dental, eye visits for our diabetic patients on a regular basis and those existing relationships will continue.
The Kaibab Paiute Special Diabetes Program has selected diabetes related education as their best practice. This practice serves the broadest range of importance to help reduce the risk of developing diabetes and its complications. We will target the tribal members living on or near the Kaibab Indian Reservation who have type 2 Diabetes, who are at risk or have pre-diabetes. The proposed activities are for all ages that are selected is to improve the number of people who receive education include monthly health checks, in class/zoom presentations or one on one, blood sugar monitoring, nutrition classes and multiple weekly fitness classes. Social Activities will be incorporated to treat depression during the winter month. Fitness classes for seniors or persons with a limited mobility will be developed to meet the needs specified.
