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Leadership representatives of the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System, VA Office of Tribal Health, Indian Health Service, Navajo Nation, and QTC participate in a grand opening and ribbon

cutting ceremony to celebrate an expansion of services at Northern Arizona VA's clinic in Kayenta on March 20, 2024. March 21, 2024 The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System is

officially providing face-to-face primary care services at its rural health clinic located in Kayenta. To celebrate the significant expansion of services, the Northern Arizona VA hosted a

ribbon cutting ceremony at the clinic located inside the Kayenta Health Center on Wednesday, March 20. Leadership representatives from the Veterans Health Administration, Indian Health

Service and Navajo Nation all spoke during the event to acknowledge the accomplishment.  “This is another huge step in making good on our obligation to serve our Native Veterans as well as

they’ve served us and our country,” said Steve Sample, Northern Arizona VA Medical Center Director. The Kayenta VA Clinic is the second of four Northern Arizona VA rural health clinics to

see this expansion of healthcare services. The first expansion took place at its Chinle clinic on January 22, and further expansions are planned for its clinics in Polacca and Tuba City

later this year.  Navajo Nation Veterans Administration Director Bobbie Ann Baldwin spoke to how significant this expansion of health care services is for the Veterans living in highly rural

areas such as Kayenta.  “This is what many of our Veterans are in need of,” Baldwin said. “I remember hearing my dad speak about the services that he wished were nearby instead of having to

drive 6, 7 or 8 hours away to get an examination. Now we have this opportunity where these services are at our front door.”