FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2003
Contact: Kerre Fisher, (907) 269-2042 or 748-7398
Public Health ‘Stars’ Receive State Awards
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Anchorage, Alaska - - - The Alaska Division of Public Health is sending awards to health care providers who volunteered their time and services to the pediatric cleft lip and palate specialty clinics during state fiscal year 2003 (July 2002 – June 2003). ‘Public Health Star Awards’ recognize individuals and agencies for their outstanding service and contribution to public health in Alaska.
‘Public Health Star Awards’ were mailed today to 37 audiologists, nutritionists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists, pediatric dentists, pediatricians, plastic surgeons, prosthodontists, and speech/language therapists from Anchorage (28), Juneau (6), and Bethel (3). (See attached list PDF, 68kb)
According to the award, “Children born with cleft lips and/or cleft palates require consistent, high-quality, and long-term care from a multidisciplinary team of providers. Because there is no craniofacial center in Alaska to serve these children, the state coordinates clinics that offer evaluations by a team of specialists with expertise in treating this condition. The clinics rely heavily on volunteers from the health care community to provide evaluations and treatment recommendations. Because of the generosity of these volunteer providers, children born with cleft lip and/or palate are able to receive care in or near their home communities rather than traveling out of state or to a distant community.”
A total of 89 children from Alaska communities were seen at the clinics during the year: 78 in Anchorage, seven in Juneau and four in Bethel. According to the Alaska Birth Defects Registry for the period of 1996 to 1998, cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) was reported at an average rate of 17.04 per 10,000 live births in Alaska.
“Because of the volunteer work of these health care providers, our children get the treatment they need. I’m very pleased to present them this award that expresses our appreciation for their good work that benefits children and their families across the State.” said Alaska Division of Public Health Director Doug Bruce.
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Sherry Hill, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Communications
(907) 465-1611Or
Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
(907) 465-1611
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