President Joe Shirley Jr., Canoncito Band, sign agreement for $1 million grant to build new clinic

Photo by George Hardeen
ToÕHajiiÕee Chapter officials join President Shirley for the signing of the $1 million sub-grant agreement between the chapter and the Navajo Nation for construction of the new ToÕHajiiÕee Health Clinic Project. From left to right are chapter secretary/treasurer Leeannie Willie, Chapter President Tony Secatero, President Shirley and Council Delegate Lawrence Platero.

Photo by George Hardeen ToÕHajiiÕee Chapter officials join President Shirley for the signing of the $1 million sub-grant agreement between the chapter and the Navajo Nation for construction of the new ToÕHajiiÕee Health Clinic Project. From left to right are chapter secretary/treasurer Leeannie Willie, Chapter President Tony Secatero, President Shirley and Council Delegate Lawrence Platero.

WINDOW ROCK -- By September, medical care for the residents of To'Hajii'ee Chapter will take a huge leap.

On June 16, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., joined To'Hajii'ee Chapter President Tony Secatero to sign a sub-grant agreement between the Navajo Nation and the Canoncito Band of Navajos that will deliver a $1 million to the chapter for construction of its new 11,595-square-foot To'Hajii'ee Health Clinic.

"I came after my money," Secatero joked at a signing ceremony in the President's office. "You have some very dedicated staff that helped us through some hard times."

Construction funding for the new $2.5 million clinic comes through the Navajo Nation Community Development Block Grant program. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will provide a $1.5 million loan for design, construction and legal services.

Even the State of New Mexico has provided an $80,000 grant for planning and preliminary design. The IHS has committed to pay maintenance and operation costs.

President Shirley praised the leadership of the chapter and its Navajo Nation Council Delegate Lawrence Platero, chairman of the council1s Economic Development Committee, for guiding the project through to this stage.

"My belief is the only way to get things done is by working together," he said. "A community doesn't get $1 million every day. The Mother Government is helping one of its babies to get this health clinic."

The President said he had just met with some doctors who discussed the problem diabetes has caused on the Navajo Nation.

"Try as we might, we're looking for answers to diabetes, and this clinic is one way to get at it," he said.

The new clinic will serve the community of To'Hajii'ee, which is about 30 miles west of Albuquerque, N.M.

The chapter is not contiguous to the larger Navajo Nation but is 235 square miles of Canoncito Band Trust Lands. This satellite community, home to 2,832 members, was established by Congress in 1924 and signed by President Harry S Truman in 1949.

Groundbreaking for the new clinic is expected within a month. The new clinic will replace one that is now housed in small modular buildings that were purchased in 1984.

"This project is on a fast track and will and will be completed by September," said Chavez John, CDBG program director for the Division of Community Development.

He said the federal program had run out of money and the Navajo Nation had to reapply on a competitive basis.

"We went ahead and decided to reapply and got the funding to do it," he said. "This sub-agreement will give the chapter the authority to handle the construction portion of the project."

Mary Jean Barrere, director of the To'Hajii'ee Clinic, said its health care providers saw more than 800 patients in March. That number is expected to rise to 1,000 per month when the new clinic opens.

She said the clinic now offers services in mental health, social services, Public Health Nursing, audiology, dental and outpatient care. It has two physicians, two medical assistants, a physician assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse and medical records staff.

On behalf of the clinic staff, Ms. Barrere thanked President Shirley for his leadership and his staff1s hard work.

"This is unique because it's going to be a tribal building," she added.

(George Hardeen is Navajo Nation Communica-tions Director.)

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