Across Alaska, communities will participate in a mass exercise to practice and prepare dispensing medicine in the event of a real emergency from April 10-13, 2019. Maniilaq Health Center, Public Health Nursing (PHN) and Noorvik Clinic are participating in this exercise called Alaska Shield/ Ragin’ Contagion. The scenario will be a bio-terrorism event of an infectious disease spreading throughout Alaska – remember this is a fictional scenario and not a real event. During the exercise Kotzebue and Noorvik will see increased presence of emergency crews, medical staff and uniformed services.
We will need employee and community involvement to make this exercise a success. Various volunteers are needed to help with setting up and operating dispensing sites – which are called Point of Dispensing (POD) sites – and community members to go through the POD. Jellybeans will be given out in place of real medication and there will be door prizes for those that go through the POD. We hope as many community members as possible go through the POD as possible, see details below.
- Kotzebue Open POD will be held at the National Guard Armory Friday, April 12th from 9am-12pm.
- Noorvik Open POD will be held at Noorvik Community Building Friday, April 12th from 12pm-2pm.
You do not need to sign up to go to the POD, just show up during the designated times. If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact Erin Nelson at 442-717 or e-mail at erin.nelson@maniilaq.org.