WASHINGTON, DC—July 1, 2020—Today, National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Secretary Lisa Elgin from the Manchester-Pt. Arena Band of Pomo Indians in California testified virtually before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) during a hearing to “Evaluate the Response and Mitigation to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Native Communities.” Secretary Elgin outlined top Tribal health and public health priorities in response to COVID-19 – some of which fall squarely under the Committee’s jurisdiction, and others that rely on individual members to work with their colleagues serving on other committees.
“The National Indian Health Board continues to educate lawmakers on the devasting impacts of COVID-19 in Tribal communities. We urge increases to relief funding to address pressing Tribal health and public health priorities like water and sanitation, telehealth, electronic health records and reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians,” said NIHB Secretary Elgin, who also serves as the chairperson for the California Rural Indian Health Board.
Read the full release.