Health

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has more dogs than it can care for. A veterinarian travels to Bethel once a month, but no such service exists in the villages. Unvaccinated and uncared for, stray dogs threaten a community’s well being. Now, two organizations have teamed up to work with Delta communities to fix the issue.

When they met this week in Bethel, the state behavioral health boards took a look at the Alaska Mental Health Board (AMHB) and Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ABADA) report about the adverse effects of discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Alaskans. The boards decided to endorse the report's findings that discrimination brings a higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse and other risk behaviors. The boards think that more access to health and community services could help.   

Tuesday kicked off a three-day state behavioral health board meeting, held at the Bethel Cultural Center. Kate Burkhart is the Executive Director of the Alaska Mental Health Board and a meeting organizer. KYUK sat down with Burkhart at the Red Basket restaurant to recap the first day after hearing public comment.   

Bethel’s Public Health Center now carries Naloxone. The drug comes in a nasal spray and reverses opioid overdoses. Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Valerie Davidson delivered the kits on Wednesday.