Announcement comes during President’s Historic Visit to Kotzebue. U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund today announced they have approved a Community Facility Grant of $24,900 to the Maniilaq Association, which provides health and social services to residents of Northwest Alaska. The funding will be used to purchase “snowbulances” for the communities of Ambler, Deering and Selawik.
A snowbulance is an enclosed cab large enough to house a patient and two health care professionals. This unit can be towed behind a snow machine or all-terrain vehicle and is necessary to allow emergency responders to rescue victims and transport them through rough terrain to the village clinic for treatment or to the airport for medevac.
Many Northwest Alaska communities are isolated and travel is limited to boat, airplane and all-terrain vehicles. Due to remoteness and difficulty reaching a hospital, each community must possess the necessary first responder equipment needed to save lives. This effort is part of the statewide “Code Blue” effort which addresses and meets the need for essential medical equipment throughout Alaska.
"President Obama is the first sitting president to visit the Arctic. The grant award for this unique piece of medical equipment at this time helps to highlight to the world the challenges of providing health care in the Arctic. We are pleased to fund the Maniilaq Association and ensure they have the ability to provide needed emergency services equipment," said Nordlund. "Rural Development will continue providing the necessary support for rural Alaskan communities."
Also announced was an Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $50,000 awarded to the Rampart Village Council, a social services organization located in the Yukon River village of Rampart. The funds will be used to straighten and stabilize 30 electrical power poles in the community. Several of the poles are leaning over to the point that children can reach the power lines. This project is greatly needed in order to correct this safety hazard.