Saturday, May 10, 2025
5/10/2025
Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity in Coronavirus Preparedness and Response - 2020 - On March 11, 2020, The Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management declared a public health state of emergency for the Navajo Nation due to the confirmation of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) in regional areas surrounding the Navajo Nation, identified as CEM20-03-11. The Navajo Department of Health activated the Health Command Operation Center (HCOC) on February 27, 2020. On March 17, 2020, the Navajo Nation reported the first confirmed COVID-19 case on the Navajo Nation which rapidly lead to community-based outbreaks. As of May 26, 2020, the Navajo Epidemiology Center’s Dikos Ntsaaígíí-19 (COVID-19) Cases - Situation Report #94, reported COVID-19 confirmed cases total 5,661; recovery total 2,029 with not all health care facilities reporting; and, a total of 259 deaths. The HCOC has structured their incident command as the Unified Coordination Group (UCG) in collaboration with Navajo Nation, Navajo Area Indian Health Services, and Navajo Tribal Organizations (designation for P.L. 93-638 from NAIHS) to coordinate resources to plan for, respond to and prevent or mitigate COVID-19. The Navajo Nation leadership including the HCOC, the Tribal Organizations, Navajo Area IHS and surrounding State Departments of Health are strengthening their relationship, their networking and their resources to respond to COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation and border towns. Many Navajo Nation citizens and residents are adapting their daily behaviors to also do their part to deaccelerate, stop and eradicate dikos ntsaaigii-19 on the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is resilient and strong culturally based tribe with their language and belief that they will also overcome this pandemic.
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).