Residents: WTC health problems ignored

[Guest guest]

Residents: WTC health problems ignored

http://news./s/ap/20060908/ap_on_he_me/attacks_health_3

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By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Fri Sep 8, 5:17 AM ET

NEW YORK - Angry residents gathered near ground zero to denounce the

government's handling of Sept. 11-related health problems, saying they

have been ignored for years.

Their complaints were likely to be echoed during a congressional

committee hearing Friday morning in New York where lawmakers intend to

grill federal officials about the absence of medical treatment for

thousands who were exposed to the World Trade Center ruins.

....

Dr. , the federal coordinator of Sept. 11 health programs,

told the crowd he would make sure officials in Washington, D.C., heard

their complaints.

" I am doing the best I can to make sure they know how you feel, " he said.

In Washington, the Bush administration said Thursday it will continue

to help sick Sept. 11 workers, but would not say what their long-term

health needs might cost.

Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt, who met with

members of New York's congressional delegation and other lawmakers and

advocates, said that by the end of October, Sept. 11 health programs

would receive $75 million.

" If the $75 million proves to be inadequate, the federal government

will be part of a coordinated effort to solve whatever the balance of

the problem is, " Leavitt told reporters after the meeting. " We have a

responsibility. We will meet it. "

Leavitt urged federal, state and city agencies to better coordinate

their ground zero health programs.

Public pressure for greater government action on Sept. 11 health

problems began building this year after an autopsy concluded that a

New York police detective's fatal respiratory disease was caused by

exposure to toxic dust and fumes at ground zero.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., said $75

million is a good start but won't come close to providing all the

treatment needed for those suffering from lung problems,

gastrointestinal disease and mental health woes.

Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of a Mount Sinai Medical Center program

studying ground zero health issues, said her group's share of that $75

million could be spent within a year.

The $75 million in treatment money was originally part of the Bush

administration's $21 billion aid package to New York after Sept. 11

but became embroiled in a yearlong legislative battle when

congressional leaders decided to take it back.

....

[Guest guest]

-thats great, and I see it happening all over again with katrina

clean up workers, but is it going to take another 5 years? wheres our

? why does it take a major disaster to get help? is not

one life just as important as another? are we all going to have to

get together and take our sick behinds to the white house to get some

help? what can we do to get our own one person, one family disaster

reconized? why is it not even considered a disaster unless many are

involved. because we are not in the limelight, so easy to ignore us.

so basically our govermeny doesn't fell bad about letting us down

because no one well notice, and only helps in disasters when people

get tried of waiting for help and have to demand it. how

nice.

-- In , snk1955@... wrote:

>

> Residents: WTC health problems ignored

>

> http://news./s/ap/20060908/ap_on_he_me/attacks_health_3

> Please visit site for complete article

>

> By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Fri Sep 8, 5:17 AM ET

>

> NEW YORK - Angry residents gathered near ground zero to denounce

the

> government's handling of Sept. 11-related health problems, saying

they

> have been ignored for years.

>

> Their complaints were likely to be echoed during a congressional

> committee hearing Friday morning in New York where lawmakers

intend to

> grill federal officials about the absence of medical treatment for

> thousands who were exposed to the World Trade Center ruins.

>

> ...

>

> Dr. , the federal coordinator of Sept. 11 health

programs,

> told the crowd he would make sure officials in Washington, D.C.,

heard

> their complaints.

>

> " I am doing the best I can to make sure they know how you feel, "

he said.

>

> In Washington, the Bush administration said Thursday it will

continue

> to help sick Sept. 11 workers, but would not say what their long-

term

> health needs might cost.

>

> Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt, who met with

> members of New York's congressional delegation and other lawmakers

and

> advocates, said that by the end of October, Sept. 11 health

programs

> would receive $75 million.

>

> " If the $75 million proves to be inadequate, the federal government

> will be part of a coordinated effort to solve whatever the balance

of

> the problem is, " Leavitt told reporters after the meeting. " We

have a

> responsibility. We will meet it. "

>

> Leavitt urged federal, state and city agencies to better coordinate

> their ground zero health programs.

>

> Public pressure for greater government action on Sept. 11 health

> problems began building this year after an autopsy concluded that a

> New York police detective's fatal respiratory disease was caused by

> exposure to toxic dust and fumes at ground zero.

>

> Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., said $75

> million is a good start but won't come close to providing all the

> treatment needed for those suffering from lung problems,

> gastrointestinal disease and mental health woes.

>

> Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of a Mount Sinai Medical Center

program

> studying ground zero health issues, said her group's share of that

$75

> million could be spent within a year.

>

> The $75 million in treatment money was originally part of the Bush

> administration's $21 billion aid package to New York after Sept. 11

> but became embroiled in a yearlong legislative battle when

> congressional leaders decided to take it back.

>

> ...

>

>

>

>