Tuesday, May 20, 2025
5/20/2025
Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program - The Navajo Nation is largest Native American tribe in the US in both population and land mass. During the Cold War, over 30 million tons of uranium ore was extracted from mines on the Navajo Nation. If is uncertain exactly how many Navajo uranium miners worked during the period in-part because of poor record keeping on the part of the mining company, but the estimate is as high at 5,000. Northern Navajo Indian Health Service Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (NNIHS RESEP) aims to serve the Native American (NA) population living on or around the Navajo Nation. Like many American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities the Navajo people suffer from poorer health outcomes and health disparities compare to other races in the United States (U.S.). The life expectancy for the Navajo people is 72.3 years compared to the U.S. rate of 76.5 years. The mortality rate is over 31% higher than the U.S. rate. The leading causes of death among the Navajo is unintentional injury, followed by heart disease. The Navajo Nation has the largest land mass of any other NA tribe in the U.S. encompassing over 27,000 square miles. The vast size of the Navajo Nation contributes to barriers to healthcare. Transportation is difficult for many Navajo families as some do not have vehicles or they cannot afford the cost of gas and maintenance. This is complicated by the fact that most of the roads on the Navajo Nation are not paved and there is no public transportation. Approximately 36% of households living on the Navajo Nation have incomes below the federal poverty level of $12,760 per year, compared to the nation average of 13%. Northern Navajo IHS RESEP proposal seeks to continue the crucial task of providing health education on the importance of being knowledgeable of radiogenic cancers and conditions due to the participants increased risk from exposure to uranium and radiation. Northern Navajo IHS RESEP have been providing services for the people of the Navajo Nation for 22 years, we have seen many RESEP participants suffer from malignant and non-malignant ailments related to radiation exposure. In the hopes of helping to reduce these conditions, NNIHS RESEP staff provides screening and education events ranging from providing formal presentations to speaking with individual community members. NNIHS RESEP works out of Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, NM and is able to obtain all of the screening necessary for RESEP participants. Further, the medical provider has strong support for NNMC physicians and specialist. Most medical follow-up is able to be performed at NNMC, but if a participant needs to be evaluated/treated by a specialist outside of the facility such as oncology, then that can be arranged. As NNIHS RESEP is associated with IHS, the participant does not receive a medical bill for screening or diagnostic testing at NNMC.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).