HHS Launches Online Health Resource for American Indians, Alaska Natives
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson yesterday announced the launch of a new resource section on the department's Healthfinder Web site in recognition of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month that will provide specific wellness and disease information of interest to those populations. The Web site will highlight more than 20 categories and 170 topic areas focusing on health issues that are particularly pertinent to the United States' four million American Indians and Alaska Natives, such as nutrition, diabetes, elder care and traditional healing. The Healthfinder site contains information from more than 1,700 government agencies and not-for-profit organizations on more than 1,100 topic areas. "American Indians and Alaska Natives are affected disproportionately by diabetes, tuberculosis, injuries and other serious health problems," Thompson said, adding, "By providing resources especially selected for these populations, with their input, we have designed a gateway to help them learn about preventing and treating illness and developing a healthy lifestyle" (HHS release, 11/7).
For more iHealth & Technology stories, visit iHealthBeat, a new Web publication sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation.