Previous Story
U.S. health officials to visit Saipan
|
Posted on Sep 13 2000
U.S. public health officials will be arriving on Saipan to look into the possibility of converting the Tanapag Health Clinic into an urgent care facility that will respond to the emergency needs of the village residents.
The Tanapag Clinic was established last May primarily for the health evaluation of residents in the village in connection with polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
However, Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said the U.S. 330 grant is being tapped to provide money for operations, personnel and facility equipment of Tanapag Clinic.
Four heads of the various federal agencies will be coming on Saipan to assess the needs of Tanapag this month. The group will also look at the possibility of expanding the current Kagman Clinic housed at Kagman Community Center.
Local public health officials and the Tanapag Action Group are finalizing the scheduled reopening of Tanapag Health Clinic to begin explaining to the community members the results of the health evaluation conducted among the residents of the village.
According to Mr. Villagomez, the clinic will also continue accepting residents or former residents of Tanapag who failed to have their blood samples taken for testing in connection with polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
Results of the blood test and the general health evaluation will be analyzed so that doctors can give a complete assessment of the person’s health status. The Tanapag Clinic will be processing the lab test results and put all the relevant medical information in a database.
Health officials have informed the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry about the planned reopening of the clinic. DPS refused to reveal the results of the testing until after the doctors have explained to the residents the results and analysis of the health screening.
More than 1,000 residents have undergone blood testing to determine the level of PCB contamination in their body. Researches have raised concern on the cancer-causing potential of PCB on human. People who have been exposed to the highly toxic chemical for a long time have also experienced nose, lung and skin irritation such as acne and rashes.
