Principal Chief Patrick Lambert has been appointed area representative by the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) to serve as a delegate on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC). The selection was made at USET’s Annual Meeting in Cherokee, during the Opioid Abuse and Misuse Summit.
“I look forward to representing our region in Atlanta during the Consultation,” Chief Lambert says. He adds, “There are over 26 federally recognized Tribes in our region, and we all have unique needs and concerns for the health of our communities.”
The CDC is the leading public health agency in the United States and abroad. They are dedicated to protecting health and promoting quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability. The agency established the TAC in 2005 to assist with input and guidance on policies, guidelines, and programmatic issues affecting the health of Indian tribes.
In a letter to Tribal leadership, the CDC explained the importance of input at this meeting, “Your input is very important to us as we work to improve Tribal access to CDC programs and services and strengthen partnerships with Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native community-based organizations.”
The two-year term begins on Feb. 14 with the 16th Biannual Tribal Consultation at CDC Headquarters in Atlanta. Discussion areas include Native specimens, behavioral risk factors, funding opportunities, and disease-specific topics.
“It was an honor to be nominated and selected by USET to represent the Tribes of our region in this very important and necessary role. Now, more than ever, we face health issues that need a strong voice to address, and I plan to do just that for Indian communities,” says Chief Lambert.
– EBCI Communications
