Springdale forum spotlights regional, islander health needs

Nia Aitaoto gives a few remarks at a health forum at the Jones Center in Springdale in this file photo, and Anita Iban sits to her right. The 2014 forum was sponsored by UAMS Northwest and explored issues affecting the Marshallese population in the United States, including health disparities, cultural understanding and social policy.
Nia Aitaoto gives a few remarks at a health forum at the Jones Center in Springdale in this file photo, and Anita Iban sits to her right. The 2014 forum was sponsored by UAMS Northwest and explored issues affecting the Marshallese population in the United States, including health disparities, cultural understanding and social policy.

SPRINGDALE -- Thousands of Pacific Islander children in Arkansas could soon become eligible for public health coverage, but access to care and healthy living are still lacking for minorities and Northwest Arkansas as a whole, experts said Friday evening.

Several dozen advocates and health care workers braved Friday's heavy rain for a community forum at The Jones Center on those topics held by the Arkansas Minority Health Commission.

At a glance

Northwest Arkansas county health statistics

Health measure * Benton County * Carroll County * Madison County * Washington County

Premature mortality (years of potential life lost per 100,000 people)320400470360

Adult obesity * 30 percent * 36 percent * 34 percent * 31 percent

Uninsured * 14 percent * 19 percent * 17 percent * 17 percent

Primary care physicians * 1 for every 1,720 residents * 1 per 1,730 * 1 per 3,940 * 1 per 1,230

Median household income * $60,300 * $37,600 * $41,000 * $46,400

Source: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 2017 County Health Rankings

Those who came celebrated the recent passage of a General Assembly resolution encouraging Gov. Asa Hutchinson to ask the federal government for permission to allow Marshallese and other islander children into the ARKids First program. ARKids is essentially Medicaid for children in families in or near poverty, and around 2,000 more would become eligible with the change, according to Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.

"That's obviously a very big deal," said State Rep. Jeff Williams, R-Springdale and one of several Springdale legislators supporting the measure. "This has been a lot of work by a lot of people for a long time."

The state Department of Human Services is putting together its request for the children's addition after the resolution easily cleared both chambers in this year's session. Williams said hopefully the change will go through by January.

"Relief," was the simple response of Melisa Laelan, founder of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese and member of the minority health commission. But now another hurdle looms: Spreading eligibility for Medicaid and food assistance to low-income islander adults as well.

"That will probably take a while," Laelan said deadpan.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences estimates roughly 12,000 Marshallese live in Northwest Arkansas. They and some other Pacific inhabitants can work and travel in the United States without visas by treaty following dozens of nuclear tests and other American military activity around the islands.

Obesity, diabetes and similar chronic conditions affect nearly all Marshallese in the area, according to the university, and many have lower incomes than the region in general. The islanders covered by the treaty had access to Medicaid and similar programs until Congress barred them two decades ago. Dozens of states individually have brought at least children back into the fold since.

Laelan credited the health commission with giving her and others a public platform for the cause. The commission's a relatively small agency that supports health screenings, education and other local health projects around the state aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at African American, Hispanic and other minority communities.

Williams said framing the resolution as an obligation following the islands' sacrifices for the U.S. also helped its passage, capping years of effort by Arkansas Advocates, Laelan and others.

The health successes and needs of Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties had the spotlight for the rest of the evening.

Benton and Washington were ranked among the healthiest counties in Arkansas in this year's national County Health Rankings from the University of Wisconsin, but Carroll and Madison contend with exceptionally high teen birth rates, shortages of health care providers and premature deaths, among other issues. Washington County, meanwhile, saw twice as many sexually transmitted diseases as the other three.

"The biggest contributor to health is your community, not doctors," said Dr. Linda McGhee, who spoke about the rankings at the forum. She urged residents to avoid smoking and drinking and give love and support to friends and family members.

NW News on 04/22/2017

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