Over 78,000 people served by NNSDP during first half of 2008

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The Navajo Nation Special Diabetes Project (NNSDP) has made tremendous strides in serving the amount of people across the Navajo Nation according to reports submitted at the end of June.

The latest data reports show the NNSDP has doubled its service to people from 30,347 people (from January to the end of June 2007) to 78,243 people in the same time period in 2008.

"We are very elated with the latest data report because it shows our staff is out there promoting good health and providing diabetes education and prevention," said Robert Nakai, Program Manager III. "The numbers we have right now only reflect actual contacts made in person by our staff in the eight service areas and does not reflect those who may have heard our messages on radio or newspaper ads or may have read our newsletters."

Nakai said that his staff is visible out in the communities doing their work and trying to stop the run-away-train of the chronic disease in diabetes.

"It is a real tough job we have to do because this train has built up so much speed and power during the past 48 years that it's hard to slow down with the minimal resources we have and it's taking us a long time to make people aware of what this dreadful disease is doing to our people," Nakai states. "I am encouraged more and more each day when I see our people working out at our wellness centers, walking or jogging along the highways, participating in healthy activities, and making an effort to improve their cooking habits."

Nakai said that his staff provides diabetes education and prevention by participating in health fairs, visiting schools, chapter houses, and home visits. He also said the staff does health screenings on regular basis by taking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood-sugar levels and providing referrals to people's health providers.

Fort Defiance and Kayenta both made the most increases according to the report. Fort Defiance jumped from serving 897 people last year to 24,211 people this year while Kayenta served 817 people last year and was up to 5,504 people this year.

The remaining include: Chinle Service Area: 2,240 in 2007 and 3,244 in 2008; Crownpoint: 6,971 in 2007 and 13,100 in 2008; Fort Defiance: 897 in 2007 to 24,211 in 2008; Gallup: 6,569 in 2007 and 13,484 in 2008; Kayenta: 817 in 2007 and 5,504 in 2008; Shiprock: 1,723 in 2007 and 8,433 in 2008; Tuba City: 4,640 in 2007 and 5,205 in 2008; and Dilkon/Winslow: 6,491 in 2007 and 5,063 in 2008.