Junior was shunned by his peers because they perceived him to be retarded. He never had a chance from the start. He had a big head and just looked funny. In addition the lack of federally funded health services to Native American Tribes contributed to Junior’s ongoing health issues. Both optometric and dental care services, for example, are offered only once every biennium in most reservation communities. The misconception that all Native American’s receive exceptional free health care only contributes to dominate culture misunderstandings about poverty in America
Isn't true that Indians receive the very best health care in the country, totally free and paid for with tax payers money?
ReplyDeleteHey Martin, I think you bring up a lot of important points about health care in Native American communities, as well as misconceptions many people in the dominant culture have as well.
ReplyDeletePretty interesting stuff, I was also under the impression that Native Americans got exceptional health care...
ReplyDeleteSo, I went and did a very basic search and found the Indian Health Services (IHS) website.
ReplyDeletehttp://info.ihs.gov/Population.asp
It says that they cover 57% of the US Indian population, which suggests 43% are not covered under their programs, whatever the quality.
So, while we have people that can tell us their personal experiences and there is undoubtably more research we can add to this discussion, I thought we could go with the information that almost half of all Native Americans are not even covered by the IHS.
Yeah it is really interesting to see how ignorant people are about this sort of stuff, me included.It is sad that Americans are not more educated or even want to be educated.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the percentage of Indians not covered by the Indian Health Services will receive health care through the new health care reform.
ReplyDeleteI havent had healthcare for several years now, and it totally sucks. Not having insurance as an adult is bad, but at least i had it as a child. As often as children typically get sick and hurt, not being covered growing up would be pretty horrible.
ReplyDeleteAlex,
ReplyDeleteMy tribe does not receive the very best health care. The tribe will not simply refer a patient to an outside doctor. You are forced to see a lame doctor, interns really, at the lame tribal health clinic. These “doctors”, determine if you see an outside doctor or not. Every couple of months, tribal people die on our reservation due to “bad medicine”. The tribal board remains idle, does nothing, as relatives helplessly watch the suffering of their loved ones.
Native Conflicts,
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing to engage us in conversation. It seems like health care is one area of huge misunderstandings that you are helping us to learn the truth about.
I think everybody who deals with indian health care know's what it's like to be part of ever lasting struggle. This struggle comes every winter, and do to lack of care there is no hope to get well. Many people "go" in the winter time, and it's sad to know the doctor's could do more!
ReplyDelete