Navajo Nation Council recognizes community members and health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2016
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jared Touchin (928) 221-9253
Jolene Holgate (928) 380-4174
Crystalyne Curley (928) 286-7918
[email protected]
NavajoNationCouncilrecognizescommunitymembersand
healthofficialsatgrandopeningofnewKayentaHealthCenterfacility
PHOTO:CouncilDelegatesNathanielBrownandNelsonS.BeGayerecognizetheKayentaHospital
SteeringCommitteemembersduringthededicationoftheKayentaHealthCenteronApril27,2016.
KAYENTA,Ariz.–OnWednesday,membersofthe23rdNavajoNationCouncilattendedthegrand
openinganddedicationceremonyforthenewlyconstructedKayentaHealthCenter.Thenew
IndianHealthServicecenter–locatedtwomileseastofthetown–willprovidehealthcare
servicesandpromotehealing,harmony,andvitalityforthegrowingpopulationof21,000
residentsinKayentaandsurroundingcommunities.
AccordingtotheNavajoNationDepartmentofHealthplannerGlennaManymules,the186,000
square-footfacilityconsistsof129staffquarters,10short-staybeds,twosurgicalunits,three
birthingunits,awellnesscenter,andfullyequippedphysicaltherapycenter.The$150million
dollarfacilitywillprovideoutpatientsurgery,pharmacy,pediatrics,dental,eyeclinic,radiology,
andcommunityhealth.
“Thisnewhealthcarefacilitycouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthehelpoflocalfamiliesliving
nearthenewhospital.Theywaivedtheirgrazingareastocontributelandtohelpthepeople.The
hospitalsteeringcommitteealsodonatedcountlesshoursandsleeptomakethisdreama
reality,”statedCouncilDelegateNathanielBrown(Chilchinbeto,Dennehotso,Kayenta),who
representstheKayentacommunity.
ThehealthcenterwillalsohouseNDOHdepartmentssuchasBehavioralHealth,SpecialDiabetes
Project,PublicHealthNursing,HealthEducation,Women,Infants,andChildrenprogram,Social
Services,DisabilityAssistance,andCommunityHealthRepresentatives.
TheKayentaAlternativeRuralHospitalSteeringCommittee,whoplayedatremendousrolein
securingthenewfacility,iscomprisedofseveralmembersincludingHelenaBonnaha,AlyceMae
Yazzie,MalcolmBenally,LillianSmith,ElwoodGene,ElwoodSaganey,MarcellaBlack,Bryce
Anderson,GabrielYazzie,CharlesAtcitty,andChrisBurnside.
ThefamiliesofHelenWatchman,GretaLuna,PhilSingerSr.,andSamSullivanJr.,wererecognized
bymembersoftheCouncilduringWednesday’sceremonyforgivingtheirconsenttouseland
withintheirgrazingareastobuildthenewhealthcarecenter.
CouncilDelegateHermanDaniels,Jr.(Shonto,Naa’tsis’Áán,Oljato,Ts’ahBiiKin)alsohighlighted
theopportunitiesthehealthcarecenterwillprovideforthesurroundingcommunities.
“Thisisextremelygreatforthecommunity.Kayentaisagrowingcommunityandthenewhospital
willpromoteeconomicdevelopment.Mostimportantly,thepeoplewillhaveaccesstohigh
qualityhealthcareservices,”statedDelegateDaniels.
TheKayentaServiceUnitChiefExecutiveOfficerandformerNavajoNationVicePresidentFrank
Dayish,Jr.expressedhisappreciationfortheteameffortofthecommunitytobuildanewhealth
carefacilitytoaddresshealthneedsandissuesofthecommunity.
“Thenewcenterisdesignedtosupporteachpatient.Ourpatientswillhaveaccessto
administrative,clinical,nursing,publichealth,andqualitymanagementservices.Also,theywill
haveaccesstoNDOHservices.ThepartnershipbetweenIHSandNDOHwillpromoteproductivity,
collaboration,andcreatearewardingworkenvironmentforemployees,”statedDayish.
OfficialswiththeKayentaHealthCenterexpectthenewfacilitytobeinfulloperationbysummer.
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