Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 4, 1 April 2004 — OHA must act responsibly and advocate for health and well-being of Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA must act responsibly and advocate for health and well-being of Hawaiians

Aloha mai kākou. In this artiele, I would like to share my mana'o on the subject of health and my recent recommendations to the OHA Board regarding this important issue. In previous articles I have touched on subjects such as diabetes, obesity and health in general. A question that comes to mind constantly is, "What is OHA doing about the health disparities of its beneficiaries?" Neither my staff nor I could answer that question. This challenges me as a Trustee to begin a process that OHA's Strategic Plan on Health, sets forth. OHA's Strategic Plan, Goal 10, Health, reads "By 2007, OHA shall have collaborated with other Native Hawaiian health care providers to increase the acquisition of resources from federal, state, eounties and others, to address the health care needs of native Hawaiians with particular focus on the needs of the aged and elderly, including but not limited to prevention, treatment, education, and other needs." The following strategy is listed under Goal 10: Develop a strategy for addressing kupuna health issues. In my March article, I shared with

readers my proposal to the Chairperson and all members of OHA's Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment, in accordance with OHA Bylaws, to create an "Advisory Committee on Education." Included in the proposal was also the creation of a second advisory committee to be named the "Advisory Committee on Health." This advisory committee would identify health issues that greatly affect Hawaiians and allow OHA to create, participate in, and/or sponsor forums, conferences, symposiums, and to share available resources, information and services with our Hawaiian people. By the time this article is printed, I hope this proposal will have been approved. To give some background on the proposal I noted the following: "OHA's presence has been missing from many health forums, conferences, and symposiums in spite of the fact that Hawaiians have the highest rates of major illnesses and diseases, etc. The primary tasks of the proposed advisory committee would be: (1) To coordinate with Department of Hawaiian Health at University of Hawai'i John A.

Burns School of Medicine, as well as other government and private health agencies to identify health issues primarily affecting Hawaiians whieh require a wider availability of information and education; (2) To participate as sponsors or co-sponsors for health forums, conferences or symposiums statewide regarding Hawaiian health programs and problems such as diabetes, hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, etc.; and (3) To assure appropriate funding for Hawaiian Health forums."

"The suggested committee eomposition recommends at least two OHA Trustees, one OHA health staff and two health advocates from either puhlie and/or private institutions. The proposal also suggests attending meetings of health entities and legislative hearings, seek appropriate research and analysis and recommend testimony as appropriate to OHA's Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment." I anticipate a positive response to both proposals soon. These will heeome the milestones by whieh we ean fulfill OHA's advocacy responsibility for promoting education, health and well-being of our keiki and kupuna, respectively. My hope is to start with the kūpuna and then eventually address the health issues of the mākua, 'ōpio and keiki. Finally, as always, my staff and I invite your advice and counsel on the above or any other concerns within our purview. My OHA access numbers are: phone 5941854, fax 594-0210 and email - dantec@oha.org. A hui hou, mālama pono. ■

OHA's presence has heen missing from many health forums, conferences, and symposiums in spite of the fact that Hawaiians have the highest rates of major illnesses and diseases.

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Dante Keala Carpenter Trustee, O'ahu