Doctors Without Borders dispatches team to the Navajo Nation.

[elleng]

'Doctors Without Borders is best known for sending medical professionals into international conflict zones in the midst of medical crises. The organization has teams in Afghanistan, Iran, Sierra Leone, Venezuela and 66 other countries. It did not, however, have a medical presence in the U.S. — until now.

Jean Stowell, head of the organization's U.S. COVID-19 Response Team, told CBS News that Doctors Without Borders has dispatched a team of nine to the hard-hit Navajo Nation in the southwest U.S. because of the crisis unfolding there. The team consists of two physicians, three nurse/midwives, a water sanitation specialist, two logisticians and a health promoter who specializes in community health education.

"There are many situations in which we do not intervene in the United States, but this has a particular risk profile," Stowell said. "Situationally, the Native American communities are at a much higher risk for complications from COVID-19 and also from community spread because they don't have access to the variety of things that make it possible to self-isolate… You can't expect people to isolate if they have to drive 100 miles to get food and water. "

Navajo Nation, home to roughly 170,000 people, now has more coronavirus cases per capita than any state in America.'>>>

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-without-borders-navajo-nation-coronavirus/?

[Wellstone ruled]

1. You just knew Utah,Colorado,Arizona and

New Mexico did not have the real Guts to get involved. So friggin sad we are at a third world type of intervention .

[ALBliberal]

3. Our Governor in N.M. has been highly involved

in trying to mitigate the impact of the virus on N.M. side of Navajo Nation. Hospitals on the reservation are not equipped for Covid 19. Some Native Americans are resistant to leaving their communities and coming to Albuquerque. I do believe our state is doing everything it can to help Native American population.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. Sorry,all these States did nothing

but exploit this Nation for their Minerals. Yes New Mexico's new Governor is involved, but, it is about forty years late.

[generalbetrayus]

7. The Navajo rez does not even extend into Colorado.

The only reservations in Colorado are the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute.

[Warpy]

13. Lujan-Grisham here in NM has been very involved

and closed the city of Gallup to slow the spread in McKinley County. By closed, I mean all routes into the city have been roadblocked, and only workers have been allowed in.

The most seriously ill patients are flown here to University Hospital. Yes, NM is doing what it can. The IHS just needs help dealing with the less serious cases staying on the rez and/or on ranches and towns outside it.

Most of the reservation is within AZ. Very little extends into CO or UT, mostly a "no man's land" border between the Navajo and Ute, who never liked each other much.

The IHS clinics do a good job on routine things, inpatient and outpatient. This is not routine, and I hope the additional help does some good.

Closing Gallup has already helped a bit, cases are now listed as "stable," rather than increasing.

[RainCaster]

2. A big thank you to PSB for doing this!

Our natives are in serious need of this help.

[Marie Marie]

4. One of my favorite charities. Now another reason to send them a few bucks.

[elleng]

5. Adding a few $$ to my regular contribution.

[crickets]

6. Glad to know they are going to help. K&R for visibility.

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Good news! ! ❤ nt

[iluvtennis]

11. +1. nt

[denbot]

9. I was east bound and Gallup was sealed from outsiders.

The Navajo know how to take action to protect their Nation.

[Warpy]

14. Been closed down for almost a week, I think

Because it's no longer spreading quickly, it has slowed a little. I hope she can keep it closed another week, at least, but I imagine the Repug businessmen are going to kick up a fuss about it because she had to use the Riot Control Act (originally aimed at unions) to do it.

[niyad]

12. A truly remarkable organization. And what a sad commentary on the horrific situation in

Navajo Nation.

[Hekate]

15. This is wonderful news from a wonderful organization