Tucson, Ariz.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) on its new $1.9 million grant for diabetes treatment and the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT) on its new $70,000 grant for reducing motor vehicle injuries. Both grants come from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The GRIC grant is part of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians run by HHS’ Indian Health Service. The grant will fund demonstration projects and programs to treat diabetes risk factors. The CRIT grant comes through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the 2010 annual status report of the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council, “Unintentional injury accounts for more than 123,000 deaths each year, including approximately 42,000 from motor vehicle crashes,” which remain among the leading causes of preventable death each year. The report says that unintentional injuries of all types “result in more than 27 million hospital emergency department visits each year” and cost the nation $406 billion annually in medical visits and lost productivity.

“These grants mean better Native health services and health awareness, which Arizona continues to struggle with,” Rep. Grijalva said. “Investing this money today means cost savings and healthier families tomorrow. I congratulate both communities for receiving these funds, and I encourage them to pursue any additional resources they need to continue this good work.”

For more information on the GRIC grant, call Juli Kelly of the Gila River Health Care Corporation at (520) 562-7940. For more information on the CRIT grant, call Michael McCluskey with the Tribe at (602) 699-2293