Recently, the VA presented an update on the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program.
What is startling is the following statement:
As of August 8, 2016 –VA provided reimbursement to 193 family members for claims related to treatment of one or more of the 15 specified Camp Lejeune-related medical conditions.
Only 193? Out of over 225,000+ that have signed up on the Camp Lejeune Registry for additional information? Out of the almost one million people impacted by this generational health catastrophe?
Only 193. Why?
If you ask the VA or military, they will simply use that number to claim that the impact on families at Lejeune must be negligible at best. Unfortunately, we know all too well about the lack of outreach and information sharing from the military since the 1980s, including delays and denials of information and data in the early 80s.
Therefore, perhaps there is another answer as to why the response to this program is tepid. Exactly how many families may have been exposed between 1953-1987 at Camp Lejeune? Exactly how many total people would that include? Exactly how many times has the military reached out to family members telling them that may have been exposed at Lejeune from 1987 to today? Exactly what form(s) of contact has the military utilized to reach these people? Exactly what has been the response rate? What is the military doing to improve that response rate and reach ALL people involved? What type of outreach tracking is being utilized by the military to ensure that ALL people are reached and informed?
Here’s the briefing: Civilian Exposure – VA CLFMP Briefing 08-11-2016
Given the low number of participants in the CLFMP, what do you think is the answer?
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4 comments
The low number of CLFMP is also because many of the victims have either died or survived but cancer and treatment was in the past. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 after leaving Camp Lejeune. My husband was stationed at New River but I worked in Building 1 and another temporary office for civil service. My former military boss died from breast cancer the same year.
Perhaps, but the real culprit for some time now has been the complete lack of information dissemination and outreach by government and military entities. They have been lax in communicating clearly the extent of contamination at Lejeune and the ongoing chemical, health and science updates. As a result, many have died without knowing a) what happened and b) what they could do about it. This is one of the core reasons why we launched Civilian Exposure almost 3 years ago. We simply decided to step forward and try to do what the government seems lax to do. We have worked tirelessly to ramp up knowledge and awareness since. Thanks for your note and support. – GS
Truth be told Camp Lejeune had toxic water for 50 years. From 1945-1995 Camp Lejeune Death Certificates for Infant babies shows proof of this. And out of respect for all the dear souls whom have been excluded. This truth needs to be told.
[…] I am frustrated and angry at the military for allowing me to suffer for over 50 years of my life. To this day, they refuse me the small amount of benefits that would be available to me as a family member. […]