We know what is best for them. ‘Indigenous groups around the world to take COVID-19 responses in their hands

When Eric Freeland, 34, at the end of March, began to cough, he did not take much of it. But when his symptoms were getting worse, free mother began to worry. Freeland is alive in the United States with his family in the Navajo Nation in the Southwest, a Native American, where access is limited to medical care. He is also diabetic, putting it at greater risk for the crown. If the free breathing became short and stammered, his mother drove him to the nearest hospital, where in a few minutes of arriving, he lost consciousness. He woke up three weeks later, connected to a respirator from a medically induced coma. “We had earlier epidemics. We virus. In general, we have to attack us we have a lot of things before,” says Freeland, who recovered from complete. But this is the “worst.” The Navajo Nation, home to more than 173,000 people and spans several parts of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, you have been affected by COVID-19, with 4944 COVID-19 infections confirmed in the community and 159 deaths on May 29 before the pandemic, the nation already up to 40% of people who face a number of challenges, which have no access to running water in their homes and 10% have no access to electricity. But despite the outbreak of the Navajo Nation received little support from the federal government. “Efforts to combat COVID-19 were only the Navajo Nation to do,” says Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation. “There was little public support if the height of the crisis.” The Navajo Nation is not alone. While communities and indigenous cultures vary widely in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they are facing similar challenges when it comes to health issues and access to medical care. People nearly 10 million indigenous people in these four countries, the descendants of the original inhabitants of their countries, higher rates have chronic health problems makes them more susceptible to serious COVID-19 cases. Yet, they say, more federal funds for these poor communities. The 19-COVID Stimulus Act by the US Congress mandates has reached $8 billion Euros for relief for the Native American community, but had to sue the Ministry of Finance, to access funds. The support is only started on the Navajo Nation has reached in mid-May, had begun long after the outbreak. Delays in the distribution of funds left workers to the forefront without adequate protection, forcing the urban Indian organization to close some of its health facilities due to the lack of critical resources. spending in Canada, where the government to protect Canadian indigenous pledged $216 million (4.9% of the population) have had experts pointed out that it would be only of only about $142 per person. The loan is non-indigenous population outside of indigenous reserves live, more than half of the indigenous population of Canada. This prompted the Congress of Aboriginal people in Canada on May 13, a proposed federal court, according to which the COVID-19 support from the government is “inadequate and discriminatory.” (The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was published at $54 million dollars to support native -RESERVE off). Despite the lack of government support and limited resources, indigenous communities are effective to halt the implementation of public health policies, the spread of the virus in their communities. Although the Navajo Nation overcomes one of the highest infection rates per capita in the United States and New York and New Jersey, the community is by far the test has been tested above the national average of 4.9%, with 15,64% of the population. “We are our sovereign ability to them to govern themselves,” says President Nez. The town has also implemented some of the most stringent measures to block the country after an outbreak started in their community, which requires that no one leaves the house when they are non-essential workers, or there is an emergency situation. They say it has helped to curb the spread of the virus. “The reason for the Navajo Nation, this crisis has created is not because the federal government,” says President Nez. “It ‘s because of us.” Indigenous communities have long been poor care during pandemics received and experienced a higher mortality rate than the general population. Mortality New Zealand Maori during the Spanish flu of 1918 was 7.3 times higher than the mortality non-natives. During the outbreak of H1N1 swine flu in 2009 accounted for indigenous Canadians for 17.6% of deaths, although they account for only 4.3% of the population of the country. “In the past we were not treated well when it comes to pandemics,” said David Monias Pimicikamak the Cree Nation in northern Manitoba director. “While the rest get from Canada [in previous pandemics], we just left to die.” The lack of federal support for indigenous communities is particularly dangerous because these communities-which are the top-to-face rates of chronic diseases prone to COVID-19 In Australia, 50% of Aboriginal people living with a large chronic diseases such as cancer , cardiovascular or renal diseases and almost 25% have two or more chronic conditions. “If you look at indigenous Australians seem to have onset of kidney and cardiovascular disease sooner than non-indigenous Australians,” says Jason Agost, an epidemiologist at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focused. In Canada, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities have a lower life expectancy than the national average and the United States are the mortality rates of preventable diseases such as asthma or diabetes three to five times higher for Native Americans . While experts say that the poorest have faced for why indigenous population health consequences, Stephane McLachlan, looking for a researcher in effective responses to COVID-19 is not a single reason for the indigenous people, it is said to be explained by “the long-term effects of colonization” are the indigenous people have already left poorer on average, and has no access to nutritious food, clean water and adequate housing. And higher rates of chronic diseases that can implement more susceptible to the crown, indigenous communities, often do the precautions, the virus spreads to stop quickly. In Canada, at least 61 First Nations communities do not have long access to clean water for at least a year. While some sources Non-potable water may be, to wash hands effectively, says the Canadian government that municipalities “Do not use consulting” on a tap water to use for washing hands. “The government keeps people say they wash their hands,” Meredith Raimondi, a senior executive of the National Council of the United States of Urban Indian Health. “But how are the indigenous people do when they do not have clean water?” For many indigenous people live in crowded homes, social distancing or isolation it is impossible. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are 16 times more likely to live in a crowded house of non-indigenous Australians. This was the case for Freeland, who, like many Native Americans living with his extended family. Both of his parents sick with the virus after contracting it. “Many of us live in the immediate vicinity,” he says. “At that time, my symptoms started to show, it was too late.” Click Stay up to date with our daily newsletter crown. Indigenous peoples also struggling disproportionately access to medical services when they get sick with COVID-19 Some indigenous communities living in remote areas where governments do not invest in health infrastructure, travel for people with the resulting hundreds of miles to reach the nearest medical facility. In northern Canada, many communities are not accessible by road and require airplanes or boats. Some remote communities in Australia have only to consult on the floor, with the patient’s doctors on the phone one nurse. “So many Native Americans have to drive for hours to see a doctor or to a grocery store to get,” Freeland says, noting that he is lucky he lives in close proximity to hospitals. “I wish I would have done if, like other Native Americans, I was far away was a bit ‘.” For all the challenges facing indigenous communities by a lack of federal funding for higher rates of pre-existing comorbidities increased COVID-sensitivity 19-These communities have taken matters into their own hands. They say indigenous brought answers the key to mitigating the effects of the virus. “Money is a good start, but it’s not the whole story,” says Shannon MacDonald, a Canadian indigenous primary physician and deputy to First Nations Health Authority, an organization providing health services in British Columbia. “It is the community the opportunity to have to respond within communities.” For many indigenous face systemic racism when medical help choose, says MacDonald that “some of our community members reluctant to access services when it is absolutely necessary.” Health providers natives to understand indigenous cultures must be prepared as more culturally sensitive to develop public health responses to these communities. already proven answers out indigenous to succeed, and in some cases more effective federal response. The Lummi Nation, a sovereign Native American communities in the Pacific Northwest is prepared for COVID-19 since the virus appeared in China, gather additional medical supplies, including for determining the country kit and test as the first hospital. The Nation has declared on March 3 state of emergency, 10 days before the Trump did the administration and including social distancing precautions made drive-through tests, supplies essential good for the elderly and phone consultation with doctors. The Lummi Reservation, home to 5,583 people, has 40 cases compared 2-one in May infection rate in accordance with the national average. In Australia, Aboriginal communities have not been affected by the virus than expected, experts attribute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of public health professionals and researchers play a central role in the response efforts in the foreground that is culturally sensitive. Aboriginal-run health services to ensure that public health messages were communicated to the communities in their local languages. Aboriginal communities to protect themselves in the bush to protect the camp elders. How many indigenous nations in Canada, some Australian Aboriginal communities also close their borders before the federal government of disease transmission should be avoided. “We look forward to opt for the government,” says Myrle Ballard, a Canadian indigenous researchers studying effective public health responses to COVID-19 for indigenous peoples. “We know that indigenous people what is best for us.” Please send any tips, leads and stories [email protected]
Picture copyright by Kristin Murphy-The Deseret News / AP