Health facility would target diabetes

By DENISE A. RAYMO
Staff Writer

April 26, 2008 04:00 am

— AKWESASNE -- Diabetics could have the most up-to-date care if the community approves a proposed health facility on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.
The Diabetes Center of Excellence is one of the more ambitious pieces of the overall plan under discussion by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, which is seeking community input on a medical facility for Frogtown Road.
The Center of Excellence, if approved by the Native American community, would house all diabetic-care services on the reservation in one building rather than the three sites now used, according to Aimee Benedict-Debo, public-information officer for the Tribal Council.
The Let's Get Healthy program, the Healthy Heart program and the Diabetes Grant program would merge under one roof and provide fitness specialists, nutritionists, health-living partnerships and lifestyle coaching for diabetics and educational outreach for people at risk of developing the disease.
The center would work to reduce childhood and youth obesity and the prevalence of diabetes at Akwesasne, as well as provide educational classes and materials for clients and their families.
The center could cost as much as $2 million. Three community fundraisers have already raised about $72,500. The rest of the money is hoped to come from grants and future fundraisers.
Other programs that would be offered at the facility include smoking-cessation classes, body-function fitness, cardio and yoga classes, Weight Watchers and label-reading training.
draymo@pressrepublican.com