December 2020 Blogs

Safeguarding Prescription Medications in Phoenix Area tribal communities

December 28, 2020
by Lt. Cmdr. Isaac Ampadu, MS, CPH, district injury prevention coordinator for the Western Arizona District of the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service supports safe and effective therapies to help patients and providers best manage pain and opioid use disorder. The IHS Opioid Strategy aims to improve perceptions and beliefs associated with substance use by promoting an appropriate, sensitive, and sympathetic message among ... Continue reading

Preventing COVID-19 During the Holiday Season

December 23, 2020
by Stacy A. Bohlen, CEO, National Indian Health Board; Francys Crevier, CEO, National Council of Urban Indian Health; Dr. Mary Owen, President, Association of American Indian Physicians; Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee, Director, Indian Health Service

Across the Indian health system, we continue to work in close partnership to prevent, detect, treat and recover from COVID-19. We are working diligently to distribute new vaccines that can help protect individuals from COVID-19. In the first two weeks of vaccine distribution, 85,000 doses have been ... Continue reading

Increasing Access to Safe Water on the Navajo Nation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

December 9, 2020
by Capt. Rachael Brown, P.E., Director, Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, Navajo Area IHS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Health Service, the Navajo Nation, and other partnering organizations have collaborated on a project using $5.2 million from IHS-appropriated Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding to increase water access on the Navajo Nation. The IHS is ... Continue reading