The Cherokee Nation held a ground breaking ceremony for a new 11,000-square-foot health annex Tuesday in Sallisaw.

The new annex will be part of the existing Redbird Smith Health Center located at 301 S. J.T. Stites Ave. in Sallisaw.

"The new annex will provide greater space for our existing services and allow us to provide services more efficiently," Melissa Gower, group leader for Cherokee Nation Health Services, said.

"Providing accessible quality health care is important to the Cherokee Nation," Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, said. "We are grateful to be able to expand the space at the Redbird Smith Health Center so that we can offer health care to more of our citizens living in Sequoyah County."

The proposed cost for the new facility will be near $2 million, with the exact numbers depending upon the securing of financing for the new facility, Gower said.

"This expansion will unite all Redbird Smith health services into one building," Gower said. "The new annex building will house administration, optometry, behavioral health and community health. The expansion will free up space within the existing clinic to expand patient care needs with more provider rooms. Overall, it will be much more convenient for patients to receive care."

Construction is planned to begin in about 90 days, pending approval of financing, Gower said.

"The new theme of the building will continue with the original design of the Redbird Smith Health Center with a few accents that will make it its own," Gower said.

Cherokee Nation operates six primary care health facilities and two satellite clinics within the 14-county jurisdictional areas.