Health Clinics on Rosebud Reservation

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September 2005, Volunteer Network International and the Amazonia Foundation launched two medical relief clinics on the Rosebud Reservation. A staff of 14 volunteer doctors and health workers paid their own way to provide badly needed health care to the Lakota people. Many of the patients who came to the optometry clinic had been without glasses for over five years. Hundreds of pairs of prescription glasses were given out with the help of Indian Health Services.At the same time, other doctors led by Flora Johnson MD and health workers ran a general health and diabetes clinic with Indian Health Services. We learned a great deal about the acute health issues among the Lakota and how diet has played a large roll in creating them. The average life expectancy on Rosebud reservation is 51.