Dr. Scott Santibanez, Nelson Andrews Jr., and Barbara Cooper on the set for the new PSA.
As the Coronavirus pandemic was approaching the three-month mark at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Operations Center, MWT Emergency Management Director, Nelson Andrews Jr submitted a technical assistance request to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Following the request two CDC officials were deployed to assist in the tribes Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
For a span of 30 days, Dr. Scott Santibanez and Planner Barbara Cooper provided in-person support and worked each day alongside the Emergency Management team which also included MWT Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Allyssa Hathaway and FEMA Liaison Officer Adam Burpee, on response planning, training, mitigation coordination and contact tracing efforts.
A close relationship was also fostered between the CDC and the Mashpee Wampanoag Health Service Unit (IHS) and the local county and state public health officials. One of the highlights of the 30-day deployment was an established contact tracing training for the EM dept. and the IHS staff. The training provided a “Train-the-Trainer” contact tracing 101 and COVID-19 overview, which included roleplaying from IHS leadership including CEO Rita Gonsalves and Doctor’s including Dr. Kelsey Simm in addition to the full medical and dental staff.
Another significant effort provided by the CDC staff was the established relationship between the State Contact Tracing Collaborative (CTC), the county public health department and town of Mashpee Board of Health. Positive efforts were made toward collaboration between these entities and the Tribe in regards to a conjoined approach to reaching out to tribal members who may have tested positive and the follow up that is involved with the contact tracing needs. Another very significant approach was made toward identification of tribal members who may have been tested at sites outside of IHS. The CDC staff established a script that was provided to the state CTC that would help to identify if an identified positive case was a member of Federally recognized Tribe, in particular the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. This is the first effort that had been conducted within the region to help identify tribal members being tested at outside sites.
Some of the final pieces to the efforts provided by the CDC staff resulted in a draft pandemic plan that is being reviewed and finalized by the EM dept. In addition a Public Service Announcement (PSA) was put together through efforts of the EM Dept. and IHS staff including Rita Gonsalves and Dr. Jose Molinar. The PSA assistance was provided through Talia Landry of Mashpee TV. The messaging of the PSA focused largely on the importance of wearing masks, social distancing and not gathering in large groups to help prevent the spread. A slogan that was established as a result and is a consistent message that is shared as critical is, “I wear a mask to protect you, you wear a mask to protect me, we all wear masks to protect our elders.”
Emergency Management Director, Nelson Andrews Jr stated; “ Having the leaders in public health at our tribe available to assist in our efforts, while in the midst of this very serious and on-going pandemic, has been a major blessing and helps to provide hope and professional guidance. As a result of the well-received assistance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, I have made another request for technical assistance to help our tribe continue to press forward as we work together to remain safe and beat the virus.”
The next CDC deployment team is scheduled to arrive in Mashpee to assist in the EOC in the beginning of August. This direct assistance is the first and only being provided in the northeast region, which will help to ensure that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is leading in the efforts to keep our tribal community, in particular the elders and most vulnerable members prepared, safe and ready during the ongoing pandemic.
