Dianne L Stallings

Ruidoso News

The Mescalero Apache Tribe, whose reservation adjoins Ruidoso in Lincoln County, is one of the recipients of grant money from a five-year $12.6 million program for diabetes prevention and treatment.

The grants are part of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which supports community-directed efforts to enhance diabetes treatment and prevention programs. Funding is expected to help continue existing programs, including nutrition and physical activity counseling, weight management, and other training.

Diabetes rates are 2.3 times higher among Native American adults compared to non-Hispanic whites, according to information from the offices of members of New Mexico's congressional delegation. Among youth, the rates are even more concerning: Native youth between the ages of 10 and 19 are nine times more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

“Fighting the diabetes epidemic in our tribal communities starts on the ground, and these grants to Tribes across New Mexico will support locally driven efforts to combat the disease,” U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a Democrat and a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said in a news release announcing the grants. “I’ve supported funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, efforts to reduce childhood obesity and many other community public health initiatives as a member of the Appropriations Committee. These programs work, and we need to keep up our life-saving partnerships with Tribal communities.”

“The Special Diabetes Program for Indians is a critical tool in combating the high prevalence of diabetes across Indian Country — and through this funding it will continue to make a significant impact in New Mexico,” U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, said. “Prevention and treatment programs, and health education have yielded real results in fighting this disease. We must continue to build on that momentum and ensure Native children and families have the resources they need to stay healthy.”

“Diabetes is one of the greatest health challenges currently facing Native American communities,” U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Republican representing the 2nd Congressional District of New Mexico, said. “This grant not only provides the much needed care to those currently battling diabetes, but provides tribes with the financial assistance to create preventative measure educational campaigns to combat future generations from becoming diabetic or pre-diabetic. I am proud to have helped secure this assistance for New Mexican tribes.”

A breakdown of SDPI funding shows the Zuni Pueblo will received the highest amount at $672,878. followed by the Jemez Pueblo at $547,286; and the Mescalero at $316,175. The Taos Pueblo will receive $260,039, the Zia Pueblo, $285,342, the Santa Ana Pueblo, $245,525 and the Indian Health Service Albuquerque Area, $202,225.

Award amounts are for 2016, and each grant is expected to be renewed at the same funding level each year through 2020.