1988: Clean drinking water, sanitary sewers reduce American Indian deaths

Many American Indian homes across the U.S. lack sewer systems and clean drinking water. Congress orders the Indian Health Service to study the problem and report annually to Congress on its progress in resolving these problems on reservations. Since 1960, IHS reports that its health program has been responsible for providing sanitary sewage disposal on reservations. Its success in making improvements is credited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for reducing the deaths, including deaths of babies, from gastroenteritis in American Indian communities.

Theme

Federal-Tribal Relations

Region

Arctic, California, Great Basin, Great Plains, Northeast, Northwest Coast, Plateau, Southeast, Southwest, Subarctic