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 (August 2010) The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina recently hosted a Health and Human Services Volunteer Dinner with doctors and nurses from the four county tribal territories to discuss the Tribe’s recent acquisition of the Indian Health Clinic.
“I want to thank those of you here in the medical profession for coming to share with us in this dream to make it a reality,” said Tribal Chairman Purnell Swett, “this will send the message that the Tribe is doing other things besides rehabbing and building homes.”
The Indian Health Clinic was founded in March 2004 by Fred Rogers and his wife Linda. Mr. Rogers is retiring and moving back to his home state of Oklahoma and asked the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to continue the work he begun. The clinic was opened to provide free primary health care for uninsured/low-income American Indians in Robeson and surrounding counties. “The need for this service is tremendous in our community,” said Tribal Administrator Dr. Lowry-Townsend, “the clinic from my understanding opened with 320 patients the first year and now currently serves almost 1,900.”
Conversations spurred between the medical professionals on how to continue to keep the clinic in operation through volunteering their personal time to the patients of the Indian clinic. “This shows that we are not waiting for things to happen to us,” commented Tribal Administrator Dr. Lowry-Townsend, “we are actively taking the step toward health care for when we get federal recognition.”
The professionals committed to helping however, it was decided protocols need to be developed before a specific commitment could be finalized. Another brainstorming session has been scheduled for Wednesday September 22, 2010 at the Tribal Housing Complex conference room. Attendees included: Dr. Cherry Beasely; Dr. Ben Hardin; Dr. Rhonda Lowry; Dr. Cheryl Davis; Dr. Joseph Roberts, Dr. Danny West, Angela Locklear, LPN; Heather Jones, LPN; Beth Locklear, LPN; and Office Manager Lila Hunt.
CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Affairs Specialist
Office: 910.522.2187
Email: kdchavis@lumbeetribe.com |
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