World takes notice For decades the plight of the Yup'ik escaped circumpolar attention, but in recent years, and aided by their association with the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Russia's Inuit have been able to share their story with their northern neighbors. The tale is bleak. They tell of chronic deficiencies in health care, insufficient housing, high unemployment, suicide and disease. Descriptions of ecological disasters resulting from major contaminants being discharged into the Bering Sea and improper nuclear-waste disposal are common. The health care system in Chukotka is in shambles.
Treatable diseases go untreated.
Mental illnesses remain unchecked and venereal disease runs rampant. Juveniles are infected fivefold as in the past. Part of the reason for this, she said, is the lack of preventive medicine and education. Health system bankrupt Staff at the region's medical centres are incapable of treating their patients effectively because of a lack of money. A mother of three, Dr. Otrokova said that she herself must wait months on end to get a paycheque.