The Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma held their 70th SemiAnnual General Council Meeting at the  AST Little Axe Health Center on November 10, 2012. The Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System, AST  Tribal Programs and visiting health booths had a great time visiting and meeting AST Tribal members  and their families, while providing health information and screening. According to evaluation results  the Health Fair and Fun/Run Walk was a success. Thank You for the opportunity for allowing the Health  Departments and others to share important health information. 

AST Fall Health Fair Evaluation Results 

Nov 10, 2012 

N = 62 

1. How would you rate the health fair in general?  

a. Excellent = 78%  

b. Fair = 19%  

c. Poor = 3%

2. Do you plan on making any personal health changes as a result of what you learned  today or screening that was provided to you?  

a. Yes = 63%  

b. No = 37% 

Are you at risk for diabetes, have diabetes or know someone who does?  Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and affects millions of Native Americans. Many people are unaware that they have diabetes or  pre-diabetes. Native Americans are twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than others. Some common signs and symptoms include:

•  Frequent infections

•  Blurred vision

•  Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal

•  Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet

•  Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

This past month has been a very great month for all the health programs. We have be reorganizing some of the programs and adding a few more benefits for the tribal members. In the Shawnee Clinic, Dr. Walsh is a part time internal medicine physician who is slowly building up her practice. Because of this, there are many patients still waiting to get appointments and because of the need for another provider, we are going to add a full time physician in Shawnee. We are currently advertising for medical providers and hope to have someone hired by the end of the year. This will help to add more patients to the Shawnee location and have a full time medical provider in the Shawnee Clinic that help with the patient load currently being carried by Stacy Curtis, PA. Once we get a physician hired, we will make sure to announce this in the tribal newsletter.

Each and every day we get up and do all the things we need to do to prepare for the start of our new day. Such as take a shower, brush our teeth, comb our hair, shave, and get dressed. How many of us sing a little song or take a small amount of time to play an instrument like the piano or guitar or just set back and enjoy the beauty of music. Music appreciation is one method that can relax you from a long day at work or school and is a real life changing tool.

I work with elders and their grandchildren have told them that music has changed their lives & helped them to make a hard day easier and a more enjoyable day. Studies have shown that children that have music in their lives have a much better attitude in school and at home. Child care and children’s health vol.7 October 5, 2012 http://www.gpo.gov/