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Third Session Permanent Forum--UN--May 2004--Agenda Item: Health |
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United Nations Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues
Third Session – May 19th, 2004
Agenda Item 4 (c): Health
Aquechewa, honorable and distinguished members of the Permanent Forum, Member States, Indigenous brothers and sisters.
My name is Rev. Denise Hylton-Barrett of the Foundation for Indigenous
Americans of Anasazi Heritage. I represent the 30 million
descendants of the Anasazi or Amerindians of North America who have
resided in this country since the beginning of civilization.
These indigenous peoples are brown skinned people with wavy to bushy
hair who resemble their trees and environment. The Anasazi people
lived here hundreds of years ago maintaining their resolve for the
land. They were one with the environment and understood the
importance of maintaining the ecosystem of the woodlands areas for the
perpetuation of their bloodlines. Over the last 500 years the US
government and private corporations have continued to decimate the land
by cutting down the trees and destroying the woodlands.
We are deeply concerned about the health status of the descendants of
the Anasazi women and the future of their bloodline and generations.
Anasazi descendants across the United States are currently dying in
this eco-system. We believe that one major factor affecting the
health care of this group is the environment, which is causing severe
disease, illness and death. No one is researching the impact of
cutting down trees on indigenous people whose lifeline is connected to
the trees. Anasazi descendants who reside in urban areas are finding
their health status growing increasing worse. In the US, the rate of
Asthma affecting Anasazi descendants and their offspring has reached
epidemic proportions. Our children are plagued with asthma in the inner
cities. People who live in NYC will tell you they have to resort
to using dehumidifiers, ionizers and air fresheners in order to breathe
because the air quality is so poor.
The United States government has become increasingly aware of the need
to eliminate the disparities in health care affecting racial and ethnic
minorities. The US DHHS, Office of Minority Health purpose is to
improve the health status of minority and low-income persons through
working to eliminate these disparities. However, statistics
gathered from the, Office of Women’s Health indicate that:
a) In 2000, women of Anasazi women
descent represented more than 18 million or 12. % of all females living
in the US.
b) In 2000, women of Anasazi descent had
an infant mortality rate twice that of whites in the US and a birth
rate three times lower. Women of Anasazi descent had the highest infant
mortality rate (14.1 per 1,000 births) while the mortality rate of
infants born to white mothers was 5.7%.
c) In 2000, women of Anasazi descent had
the highest incidence of low birthweight babies than any other racial
or ethnic group. Almost 13% of these infants were low
birthweight, compared with almost 7% of whites.
d) Mortality is higher for well educated
and non-poor Anasazi descendants than other races. In 2000, women of
Anasazi descent of all ages had a maternal rate of 20.1 per 100,000
live births, which was more than three times higher than that of White
women (6.2%). Anasazi descendants have a 4 times the risk of dying from
pregnancy complications & childbirth, and almost twice the risk of
medical complications of whites.
e) In the US, Anasazi descendants
represent 38 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases reported in the United
States according to the Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention. Anasazi descendants between the ages of 25-44 are at
highest risk for HIV/AIDS in both men and women. This year, the death
rate from AIDS in women of Anasazi descent was the highest of any group
of American women at 13 per 100,000. In contrast, the mortality
rate from AIDS for white females were less than one death (0.7%)
f) Among women of Anasazi
descent, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in 2000,
responsible for 7,250 deaths or 5.2% of deaths from all causes.
The health outcomes of Anasazi descendants are far worse than those of
White women who have this disease.
g) Anasazi descendants have the highest
rates of tuberculosis in the US. Of people who have TB who were
born in the US almost 50% of the cases occur in Anasazi descendants
(46.7%).
h) Women of Anasazi descent have the
highest mortality rate from lung cancer (40.2% per 100,000) among all
minority groups and have the highest mortality rate from breast cancer
of all population groups (34.9 per 100,000) which is higher than that
of White women.
i) Women of Anasazi descent
have the highest death rate from stroke of all women, at 78.1 deaths
per 100,000 in contrast to 57.8 for White women and they have the
highest mortality rate from heart disease (284.1 per 100,000) of all
American women.
j) On average Anasazi
descendants are twice as likely to die from disease, accidents,
behavior and homicide at every stage of life than whites. Anasazi
descendants are 5 times more likely to die as victims of homicide.
k) In the US, the rate of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome affecting Anasazi descendants is three times the rate of
other races and on the increase.
In lieu of the critical health care crisis facing Anasazi descendants,
we respectfully reiterate the following recommendations made by the
Second Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
1. We recommendation 81 from the Second Session of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which asked the Working Group on
Indigenous Populations to undertake a study on genocidal and ethnocidal
practices perpetrated on Indigenous People and request that you add
ecocide to the study to look at the effects of environmental genocide
on indigenous peoples. We recommend that a research study be undertaken
to examine the effects of stripping the environment of vital organisms
such as trees on the overall health and wellness of indigenous peoples.
2. We support the recommendations made during the Second
Session of the Permanent Forum under the mandated area of Health
Section 1a which urges the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO) and all United Nations bodies and
agencies involved in health programs to incorporate indigenous healers
and cultural perspectives on health and illness into their
policies. In spite of all the technological advances in science
and medicine in the US Anasazi descendents are mistrustful of the
medical system and continue to utilize traditional indigenous and
alternative healers to supplement their health care. We also support
recommendation no. 2 which calls for UN agencies to convene a workshop
on indigenous health with emphasis on indigenous women and children,
infant mortality, reproductive rights, sterilization, domestic abuse
and addiction and collecting data related to these issues.
3. We support the general recommendation made during the
Second Session of the Permanent Forum under the mandated area of Health
section 68 which urges outlining a global strategy on health of
marginalized ethnic populations, to gather data and extend program
services to indigenous people based on criteria relating to ethnicity,
cultural or tribal affiliations and language.
4. We support the recommendation made by the Second
Session of the Permanent Forum that the Global Fund review their
funding strategy in order to include access by indigenous
non-governmental organizations and health providers for community-based
culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS programs.
5. Finally, we agree that a healthy population is a
central goal of human development. We recommend support the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, in paragraphs 53 and 54, under
Health and Sustainable Development which stresses the need to address
the causes of ill health, including environmental causes.
In conclusion, in spite of all of these critical health problems, women
of Anasazi descent are survivors. We have one of the lowest rates
of suicide of all ethnic groups in the US. We continue to embrace
life for their children and future generations. Thank you
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