Kalihi folks support
public health school

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Karen Ululani Loebl, Kalihi-Palama Health Center community reproductive health educator who studied drama at the University of Hawaii, had a dream to create a play to both educate and entertain youths.

Getting into health education, she sparked efforts to deal with teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. With help from public health students, the result was a play titled, "It Can Happen to You."

"We now have a one-hour locally written, locally produced powerful, dynamic play," she said.

"So far, this play has reached nearly 5,000 local high school students and has resulted in many students accessing Kalihi-Palama Health Center and other community health centers for reproductive health care and counseling."

It wouldn't have happened without the UH public health students and graduates, she said.

"I believe the School of Public Health at UHM needs to remain intact with full accreditation. ... There are many faces of public health in Kalihi. Just look around you."

She was one of 15 speakers who backed saving the School of Public Health last night at Likelike Elementary School.

An audience of about 45 attended the community meeting sponsored by Kalihi-Palama Health Center.

With the school about to lose its accreditation, backers are making a last effort to save it, including lobbying the UH Board of Regents, which is scheduled to meet Thursday on Kauai with the issue on its agenda.

"I only have one vote, but I'm going to vote for it," said student regent Sat Khalsa, on hand last night.

Palama Settlement's Bob Omura said trained people are a must.

"There's no better training ground than the School of Public Health at the University of Hawaii," he said.

"The argument that there is not sufficient money -- that the University is broke -- has to be cast aside," said Bill Wood, a former interim dean at the school.

"Shame on the people who try to close the school down!" contributed teen-ager Thuy Van Troung. "Save the School of Public Health!"

"We really need to rethink our priorities," added Charlene Cuaresma, public health educator. "We really need to diversify the public health area."

Several teen-age members of a TEAM 99 health awareness group praised benefits of relevant health education on teens.

"This program would not exist this summer without the School of Public Health," said Doris Segal-Matsunaga, supervisor of the Kalihi-Palama Health Center.

"Kalihi-Palama does not want the School of Public Health closed," added Kalihi resident Kuumeaaloha Gomes.

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