A Critical Condition:
Encouraging Indian Writers to Engage Health Issues

Reprinted by permission from Reznet News

By Regina McCabe
Reznet News

GALLUP, N.M. -- Interested in producing effective messages on health issues that have eye-catching design and the right words? The Native American HealthWriters Institute will train 15 Native Americans to create health materials for the people of their community.

The institute, which will take place May 15-24 at the University of New Mexico-Gallup, will offer intensive one-on-one instruction that will include hands-on experience in researching, writing and doing layout and design, according to Pamela Stovall, who heads the communication and journalism program at the two-year college.

Pamela Stovall of the
University of New Mexico-Gallup
(Photo by Regina McCabe)

"We talked to people in the area, and quite a few of them said there is a lack of health materials focused on Native Americans," said Stovall, who secured funding for the institute through a grant from the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. "We want to give people the skills to learn how to write this kind of material."

A health professional who works for a local area tribe agreed there are not enough health materials geared toward Navajo, Hopi and Zuni.

"Most health materials are focused toward other nationalities," said Martha Garcia, division director at Pueblo of Zuni Health Services.

According to the HealthWriters Institute brochure — sent to tribes, tribal colleges and the Indian Health Service — the program is needed because "chronic illnesses affect a large percentage of Native American populations. Because of this, educational materials written by Native Americans for their local communities are desperately needed."

The types of materials that will be developed at the institute include health promotion brochures, fliers, newsletters, posters, and magazine and news articles.

The program has accepted 15 Native American applicants, including students and professionals in journalism and the health care fields. Stovall said no prior experience was necessary. Applications were posted on the Healthwriters Institute Web site.