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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 8, 2003

WIC nutrition program evicted

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

WAIMANALO — A federal program that serves hundreds of women and children every month at the Waimanalo Health Center will be evicted to make room for primary healthcare programs.

Dr. Charman Akina, interim executive director of the center, informed the Women, Infant and Children Services Branch office of the decision in a March 3 letter.

WIC clients and Waimanalo leaders were surprised to hear about the decision.

"I'm totally shocked," said Wilson Ho, who sits on the center's board and is chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board. "We're talking about pregnant young ladies who need help, need the food, need the support."

Ho said the $250,000-a-year program serves close to 900 women, infants and children.

The WIC program operator at the center said she couldn't comment on the planned closure. WIC officials said the letter was confidential and that the Waimanalo program wouldn't be affected until October.

"If that does close down we would refer the clients to another clinic," said May Kawawaki, public health administrative officer. "We'll look at other alternatives to service that population as best we can."

But WIC clients said if the Waimanalo office closes, they will have to go to other clinics where it is busier and more difficult to get an appointment, which is required to obtain food coupons and educational programs. The nearest office is in Kane'ohe.

"It will reduce the amount of services we get because the other clinics are so busy," said Kim Freitas, a mother of three.

Freitas, who has been to several other clinics, said she prefers the Waimanalo office because the staff is caring and flexible, making sure that mothers don't go without their ration of food coupons because of missed appointments.

Coupons and other services are distributed at the time of an appointment, she said. Sometimes she was unable to make the appointment at other clinics and couldn't reschedule a new one for a month or two, which meant going without the milk or cereal provided by the program.

Akina was off island and unavailable for comment. Greig Gaspar, center marketing specialist, said the decision was made by management and reflects a new focus for the center — to concentrate on primary healthcare.

"We're looking at services that will benefit our patients," Gaspar said, adding that 10 percent of the WIC clients also use the health center's services.

Rep. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Portlock), called for Akina's resignation as well as that of Peter Kama, head of the center's board.

"They're turning away federal funding (used) to help the people in Waimanalo for political purposes," Hemmings said, referring to what he said were lingering suspicions and divisions within the center stemming from the firing of former executive director Kawahine Kamakea-Ohelo in January.

"It's unconscionable."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.