Alaska got its first NICU not so long ago, if I’m right. Before, they had to airlift babies down to Washington if they could move them at all. Technology makes a difference.
It’s great to know how to deliver a baby in an emergency situation, but if the bad times come, I want myself and my family being as healthy as possible going into them. That means I take my blood pressure medication now, even if I can’t get it then, my husband takes his Lipitor, and my children get their vaccinations, and I give birth in the hospital - we benefit from modern medicine while we can.
The Soviet Union made sure that it vaccinated its citizens.
After its fall, it did not take many years for diptheria and other preventable diseases to make a comeback.
Mrs VS
The PMS NICU and small staff dropped the IMR by 80% in less than 2 years. As you noted, the trip to Seattle was usually fatal.
I like living in Anchorage, I like the idea of having clean running water year around, good hospitals, a working sewer system etc, etc. Civilization has its perks.
I have lived in bush and rural communities, like the folks on Green Acres, give me city life!