April 15, 2004
Grantwriters Norm Ayagalria and Gerry Pflugh.
YKHC Public Relations News Release
Members of the YKHC Grant Writing Department recently visited four villages in the YK Delta to discuss funding strategies for new health clinics.
"The more the villages are involved in the process of acquiring funding for this year's clinics, the easier it is for the villages to get awards," said Norman Ayagalria.
Ayagalria, Gerry Pflugh, and Agnes Nunn, all grant writers at YKHC, visited with members of the village councils in Kwethluk, Nunapitchuk, Kasigluk, and Atmautluak to outline details of a strategy to get new clinics in villages.
"Our current funding sources consist of Federal, State, and private foundations," said Pflugh. "We've got to be able to demonstrate to these agencies the great need for these new clinics. That means the villages really need to be involved in helping to provide data that shows that the people of the village feel that a health clinic is one of their top priorities for development."
The needs for new health clinics are based on the size of the village, and the age, condition and size of their current health clinic.
"We want all villages to have health clinics that can serve the needs of the community," said Nunn. "With the high cost of construction in the YK Delta, each clinic is a big financial commitment, currently budgeted at about $1.4 million dollars. Funding is a real challenge, but we are committed to getting it done."
The YKHC grant department has secured the funding for twelve health clinics in the past two years, with an additional seven villages currently in the process of seeking funds.