To tackle rising cases of diabetes among Native Americans has become the biggest challenge for the Department of Health and Human Services. Diabetes is seriously causing health problems among American Indian/Alaska natives in large numbers knocking at the doors of the Department of Health and Human Services to take quick action.
Diabetes affected people are getting more prone to heart diseases, stroke, pneumonia and influenza. They are also likely to suffer from the problem in their skins, mouth, heart, kidneys, nerves, and feet. Certain tribes have much more higher rates of diabetes for e.g. 50 per cent of the population between the age group of 30 to 64 among the Pima Indians in Arizona affected from type 2 diabetes.
Indian/Alaska Natives are 2.2 times affects from diabetes as compared to non-Hispanic whites. Pregnant women affecting from 2-type diabetes have more chances to have babies born with birth defects. Seriousness of the problem can analyze from the fact that severe cases of diabetes are resulting in deaths.
To improve the deteriorating health among the Native Indians because of the diabetes, Department of Health and Human Services has initiated diabetes prevention and treatment project covering all the tribes of Native Indians. Funds will provide to cover both the direct and indirect costs in complete primary, secondary and tertiary diabetic prevention and treatment programs. It is especially specifies that the grant funds in no way would be allowed to utilize for any other purpose rather than the said project.
Under the Amended Public Health Service Act, Indian tribes or tribal organizations entitled by the Indian Health Service organization are eligible for the grants. The program will initiate under the grant, contract or cooperative agreement with the IHS under the Indian Self-Determination Act and Urban Indian organizations.
All the American Indians/Alaskan Natives would cover under the funded project either directly treating them or educating them several preventive measures to keep diabetes under control.
The information regarding submission of the application can also had from Grants Management Officer at Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Management, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-5204.
The Grants Management Branch will scrutinize all the applications. The issues related to the project like complete review of the program, appropriateness of the proposed services or any recommendations regarding the proposed costs will be dealt by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Area Diabetes Consultants (ADCs) in IHS Area.
A notice of the grant will issued only after review of the application and approval of the same. For further details, Department of Health and Human Services website can refer.