Tending to the aftermath of COVID-19

From Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health News.

We are now in the phase II of our COVID response. The curves of new infections have flattened among our hardest hit tribal communities in the Southwest, and we are now tending to the aftermath of the COVID-19 impact. New programming will address behavioral and mental health problems; help families with small children to cope; translate our school-based youth empowerment programs into virtual formats; and, continue our scholarship and training programs for Native Americans pursuing careers in public health—all while working to keep the virus out, and studying new treatment and vaccine candidates.

In the meantime, we are seeing new COVID-19 outbreaks in other tribal communities, who are reaching out for help and lessons from the work with our White Mountain Apache and Navajo partners.  It is time for new resolve as we enter the colder months when people will be indoors more, and when flu begins to circulate.

We have launched some longer-term solutions to water insecurity with Navajo families we serve, including installation of solar-powered water generators that supply safe drinking water to homes. This equipment is guaranteed to last for up to 15 years.