WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye is pleased to announce that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded a $2,349,671 contract to Papa Ola Lokahi to establish a regional training center that will extend the technical leadership and support of the National Diabetes Today Training Center to the Pacific Region including, Hawaii, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, national and regional organizations serving this region, and local communities. Diabetes Today is a community mobilization model to engage communities affected by diabetes by describing the burden of the disease in a specified geographical community and defining targeted community interventions that will reduce related risk factors and associated complications of diabetes.

"I am confident that the Center will be a valuable resource in its efforts to successfully address the specific concerns and health needs affecting Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders," said Senator Inouye.

"The Native Hawaiian population has some of the poorest health indicators of any population group in the State of Hawaii, with the rates of some diseases such as diabetes among the highest in our nation," continued Inouye.

The purpose of this Regional Training Center is: 1) to develop a community model for diabetes prevention and control that captures the unique sociocultural perspectives and processes of this region, and to mobilize interested community members in planning and implementing diabetes control interventions; 2) define a process for transferring the community model to health and human services professionals and community leaders which may include, but is not limited to a structured training program; 3) implement and evaluate this community model; and 4) provide on-going technical assistance and follow-up to participating jurisdictions and communities.

Papa Ola Lokahi will form an advisory group with representatives from the Pacific Region to provide guidance on how best to reach the diverse cultures in the Pacific.

In 1988, Senator Inouye introduced and pursued passage of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act, which established Papa Ola Lokahi (POL), an umbrella health service organization, and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems (NHHCS). POL is mandated to address the poor health status of Native Hawaiians through the coordination, training and provision of technical assistance to the NHHCS and through research, demonstration projects, and other activities. The NHHCS provides direct services to Native Hawaiians in need of different aspects of health care related services.