In recent months, a western South Dakota tribe has decided to withdraw its share of funding from a clinic that offers women’s health services to enrolled members in Rapid City. The Native Women’s Health Clinic, located in the Oyate Health Center, is contracted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe to provide obstetric and gynecologic services for eligible Indian women. However, the clinic has not offered appointments for over a year, leading to a decrease in patient visits from 4,800 in 2021 to zero by April 2023.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe have become increasingly concerned about the lack of services provided by the clinic and have threatened to withdraw their funding shares if the clinic does not start seeing patients. Leaders from these tribes are working tirelessly to address this issue and find alternative solutions for women’s health services in Rapid City.
Patients who were previously seen at the Native Women’s Health Clinic are now being referred to midwives at the Oyate Health Center or other clinics in Rapid City. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe are taking steps to ensure that women’s health services are still accessible to enrolled members in the area. Despite efforts by these tribes, however, concerns remain about the clinic’s ability to deliver essential health services to women in Rapid City.
President Frank Star Comes Out of the Oglala Sioux Tribe has remained silent on the matter, providing no comments on the situation. Plans for funding shares allocated by these tribes to support women’s health services are still being determined as leaders continue their efforts to find solutions for this critical issue.
