Wed Sep 18 03:02:38 UTC 2024: ## Waimea Clinic Aims to Tackle Health Disparities in Native Hawaiian Community
**WAIMEA, Hawaiʻi** – A rural health clinic in Waimea, Hawaiʻi, is making strides in addressing health disparities within the Native Hawaiian community. Kīpuka o ke Ola (KOKO), which serves a population where 47% are Native Hawaiian, offers a wide range of health services and programs, including dedicated medical staff who go above and beyond to ensure patient care.
KOKO’s founder and CEO, Dr. Claren Kealoha-Beaudet, highlighted the disproportionate impact of chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart problems within the Native Hawaiian community. She attributes this to ongoing challenges from the colonial past.
“We are still battling that transition,” said Dr. Kealoha-Beaudet.
KOKO’s commitment to patient care includes personalized attention and outreach, as exemplified by their efforts to ensure patients attend appointments, even if it means calling them multiple times. This dedication has led to positive results for patients like Malani Papa DeAguiar, who lost 34 pounds through KOKO’s weight loss program.
“This is the first time in my life that physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, I’m one,” DeAguiar said.
To expand its reach and services, KOKO plans to break ground on a new clinic later this year. The new facility, located on a seven-acre property on Hawaiian Homestead lands, will double the clinic’s size, allowing them to serve more patients.
Dr. Kealoha-Beaudet’s vision is to eliminate health disparities within the Native Hawaiian community. “I feel proud. I feel proud for my community,” she said.
KOKO’s work demonstrates the importance of targeted community-based initiatives in addressing health disparities and empowering individuals to achieve better health outcomes.
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