<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2lREP2_0vmCT8Hg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2lREP2_0vmCT8Hg00" width="1600" height="1066" ><figcaption>Nicole Keeswood of Shiprock sings the national anthem in Navajo while Dr. Shane Spacek, pharmacist, posts the U.S. flag at the beginning of the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center 40th Anniversary Celebration ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle, New Mexico. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)</figcaption></figure>Tribal and federal representatives visited Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center on Sept. 25 to recognize the 40 years it has been in service to the community and the impact it has made for residents.The schedule of events featured several distinguished figures addressing the health care needs of Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle and other tribal communities.Entertainment included the singing of songs by Shantell Willie and her mother, Sandy Willie, of Sanostee.Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle sits about 30 miles from Bloomfield and was opened in 1984 to serve the Huerfano, Nageezi, and Counselor Chapters, according to the Indian Health Service website.The clinical departments include outpatient, dental, optometry, pharmacy, mental health, radiology and social service.Shealyn Lucero, DZHC health system administrator, gave the opening address saying it takes the love of the community to come out and serve.“It's all about customer service. Customer service starts with the staff. You have to know that leadership is here to support you, and that's what I try to do here for the DZ staff and the community,” she said.Roselyn Tso, IHS director and honorary guest, spoke to the challenges Indian Country faces and the understanding health care workers need to have when addressing those needs.Tso said she has worked with IHS for 40 years at all levels, giving her the perspective to understand patients.“One thing I committed when I took this job was that I would be out in Indian Country, and I want to be out here because you don't understand the needs of our people if you're not living around them,” Tso said. “You don't understand the challenges that our people have if you don't drive the long distances that our people have to drive, or understand the food insecurities that our people have.”The work of health care at IHS is more than providing medication or making appointments for community members, Tso said.“When you look at the IHS mission statement, when we talk about the social and the physical and the mental and the spiritual health of people,” she said. “How important it is to take a step back as health care professionals and really look at the whole person.”Keeping the federal government accountable will keep the needs of tribal communities in tune, Tso said.“You cannot provide quality care that our people deserve in substandard buildings, and that's what we have in Indian Country in some of our places, and that is unacceptable,” she said.Shirley Yazzie-Lewis, who served as the first health system administrator at DZHC, gave some words of remembrance.Lewis credited her hire to the Navajo language she spoke that would help the elders in the community receive the care needed.There were many names Lewis acknowledged to her time at DZHC, including Dr. Taylor McKenzie.Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya spoke on behalf of the Navajo Nation in appreciation of DZHC and the health care service they provide to the people.Montoya reminded those in attendance to be kind to others and themselves by taking a moment to breathe.“Take about an hour, go piñon picking right now,” she said. “I did that last week. I think I sat under the tree and listened to the wind more than anything. It was beautiful because sometimes we forget about ourselves – I keep telling myself that I only have four years to be in this position, I have to make every day count, but I can't work hard if I'm not feeling well.”On behalf of Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, the director for Navajo Division of Health, Sherylene Yazzie, gave appreciation to the staff of DZHC for keeping the facilities functional.“I'd like to also thank past tribal leadership for their vision and support in the health care facilities for our tribal communities,” she said.Yazzie reemphasized the need of taking care of oneself and those around them.“If you can't be that healthy 100% person, you can't help our Navajo people, and you can't help yourself in your daily operations,” she said.The 2024-25 Miss Navajo Nation, Ranisha Begay, greeted the guests and gave her appreciation to the work done at DZHC.“Every single person – it’s a chain reaction to healing our people,” she said.Begay also gave recognition to the sacred mountain located next to the health care facility that brings blessings and teachings to the workers as they go about their jobs.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center celebrates 40 years

Tribal and federal representatives visited Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Health Center on Sept. 25 to recognize the 40 years it has been in service to the community and the impact it has made for residents. The schedule of events featured several distinguished figures addressing the health care needs of Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle and other tribal...