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The village of Diomede on Little Diomede Island in Bering Strait.

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U.S. Coast Guard photo

The village of Diomede on Little Diomede Island in Bering Strait.

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Island village claims health care crisis

Published: October 21st, 2009 12:11 PM
Last Modified: October 21st, 2009 03:16 PM

Link: KNOM via APRN The 114 residents of Diomede in the Bering Strait are tired of being known only as the U.S. community from which one can see Russia. They just want to be able to get off their island for basic health care. For three months, Evergreen Helicopters has been doing maintenance on the twin-engine chopper that normally carries mail and passengers from Nome to Little Diomede Island. The single-engine chopper now on the route can't legally carry passengers. "We have several expectant mothers who have not been able to make their appointments in Nome because of lack of transportation," says Roy Agloinga, chief administrative officer for Norton Sound Health Corp., which provides health care for Diomeders. The NSHC board is backing a resolution to have the situation declared a disaster. "We get all that publicity [for seeing Russia] but we don't get help as promptly as we need," says Diomede city clerk Jamie Ahkinga.

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