Earlier this month, we celebrated Nationwide Rural Well being Day and had been reminded {that a} robust neighborhood is rooted in its individuals. At the US Division of Agriculture, we’re laborious at work providing sources to the agricultural and agricultural communities that feed and gas our nation and supply the on a regular basis necessities upon which America relies upon.
As I’ve traveled throughout Oklahoma, I’ve seen firsthand the distinctive challenges individuals in rural communities and distant components of the state have in accessing the well being sources they want and deserve. These challenges are very true for individuals residing in our nation’s tribal communities who’ve been underserved for a lot too lengthy.
At USDA Rural Growth, we’re dedicated to creating positive that individuals, regardless of the place they reside, have entry to high-quality and dependable well being care providers like pressing care, main care, and dental care. That’s why I have been a proud champion of applications just like the Emergency Rural Well being Care Grants, which was created by President Biden’s historic legislative package deal, the American Rescue Plan Act.
Within the final 12 months, this program has helped rural well being care organizations throughout the state buy provides, ship meals help, renovate well being care services and supply individuals with dependable medical testing and therapy.
Not too long ago, I used to be in Pawnee Nation, the place I had the pleasure of assembly with President Walter Echo-Hawk on the web site of the long run Pawnee Nation Behavioral Well being Middle. This new facility is funded partly by a $1 million Emergency Rural Well being Care Grant and goes to assist fill an important hole in well being protection in North Central Oklahoma. I’m excited to accomplice with President Echo-Hawk on this enterprise, because the Pawnee Nation has declared warfare on trauma and is making a valiant dedication to raised the behavioral well being for our rural and tribal communities in Oklahoma. Lots of our tribal companions, just like the Pawnee Nation, are dedicated to serving to our communities, and with President Biden’s dedication to rural America we intend to help as many communities as doable enhance entry to healthcare throughout Oklahoma.
We additionally know that rising entry to telemedicine and distance studying in rural Oklahoma is crucial to constructing more healthy and extra resilient communities.
Oklahomans in distant components of the state like Ringling or Stigler typically have to journey higher distances to see a well being care supplier and are much less more likely to have entry to high-speed web to make the most of telehealth providers and usually tend to reside in an space that has a scarcity of docs, dentists and psychological well being suppliers. By way of applications just like the Distance Studying and Telemedicine Grants Program, we’re making it simpler for individuals residing in rural areas to entry well being care providers remotely. A technique we’re enhancing these distant providers is by helping in funding the wi-fi networks which might be needed for telehealth. Not too long ago I used to be in Chickasha, the place the president’s Emergency Rural Well being Care grant is offering $191,300 in funding these for networks and entry factors at Grady Memorial Hospital. As somebody who grew up in Howe, Oklahoma., I understand how a lot of an affect it will have on the lives of those that rely upon medical care within the Chickasha area however can’t essentially drive the lengthy distances to see a medical skilled.
Well being is about far more than medical care. Entry to fashionable, dependable water and wastewater infrastructure is a crucial necessity for the well being and well-being of each American.
In Oklahoma, we proceed to work hand-in-hand with our companions and area people leaders to advertise a wholesome neighborhood and setting by our Water and Environmental Applications.
These applications assist rural communities acquire the technical help and capital financing essential to develop clear and dependable ingesting water and waste disposal methods. Protected ingesting water and sanitary waste disposal methods are important not solely to public well being, but in addition to the financial vitality of rural America
By way of these applications, we make certain individuals, kids and households throughout the state have clear water and protected sewer methods that forestall air pollution and runoff.
One of many water tasks Rural Growth right here in Oklahoma is investing in is the Pittsburg County Public Works Authority by serving to them finance a lot wanted water system enhancements. This can embrace 8,000 toes of recent water traces and three,700 toes of water line replacements. As well as, the mix of a grant of $375,000 and a mortgage of $495,000 will rehabilitate the county’s water therapy plant and assist present new automated learn water meters to assist higher serve the residents of Pittsburg County. As I discussed earlier than in regards to the significance our tribal companions are making in rural Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation is partnering on this effort by serving to fund $50,000 for these tasks. The most effective points about rural Oklahomans, is that our neighbors are all the time on the lookout for methods to assist each other and I couldn’t be extra proud to be a life-long Oklahoman.
Kenneth Corn is USDA Rural Growth state director.
