[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6501]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 526--DESIGNATING APRIL 20 THROUGH 26, 2008, AS 
 ``NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AIDE, COMMUNITY HEALTH PRACTITIONER, AND 
                       DENTAL HEALTH AIDE WEEK''

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. Stevens) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 526

       Whereas Alaska experienced one of the most extreme 
     tuberculosis epidemics in recorded history in the 1950s;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program in Alaska was 
     created during the 1950s, in response to the unique health 
     care needs of remote Alaskan communities;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program, which currently 
     consists of 550 Community Health Aides and Community Health 
     Practitioners and 40 Dental Health Aides, serves 178 isolated 
     Alaskan communities to provide emergency, primary health 
     care, and oral health care;
       Whereas Community Health Aides, Community Health 
     Practitioners, and Dental Health Aides have proven their 
     dedication to serving Alaskans and their ability to work in 
     some of the most challenging and diverse settings in the 
     world;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program is the only 
     program of its kind in the United States, and other countries 
     have modeled their delivery of rural health care after this 
     program;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program has proven to be 
     effective, efficient, and essential in improving the health 
     of the inhabitants of rural Alaska;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program is a patient's 
     first contact within the network of health care professionals 
     in the Alaska Tribal Health Care System and is one of the 
     most effective means of delivering health care services to 
     Alaskan communities;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program was created with 
     a focus on tuberculosis, meningitis, and other infectious 
     diseases, but now successfully cares for other common 
     diseases such as diabetes and heart disease;
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program also serves the 
     oral health needs of Alaskans, and is in the process of 
     adding services to address the behavioral health needs of 
     rural Alaska; and
       Whereas the Community Health Aide Program has successfully 
     adapted over the last 50 years to the ever-evolving health 
     care landscape of Alaskan communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates April 20 through 26, 
     2008, as ``National Community Health Aide, Community Health 
     Practitioner, and Dental Health Aide Week''.

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