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Health Watch - March 2014

Author

Compiled by Shari Narine

Volume

31

Issue

12

Year

2014

Sinclair’s family pulls out of inquest
Brian Sinclair’s family and Aboriginal groups have pulled out of the second phase of Judge Tim Preston’s inquest, which has narrowed its scope to look at wait times in emergency rooms and not the treatment of Aboriginal patients. The inquest is the result of the death of Brian Sinclair, The man was left unattended in the Health Sciences Centre’s emergency room in Winnipeg on the afternoon of Sept. 19, 2008. Thirty-four hours after he arrived at the hospital he was found dead in his wheelchair after midnight. He had not been triaged and he did not receive any care during his time there. Aboriginal Legal Services and Ka Ni Kanichihk have also withdrawn leaving only the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the Manitoba Nurses’ Union as participants. The second phase of the inquest was scheduled to last three weeks.



Girl’s suicide death underscores problems in federal, BC services
A report by Children and Youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond on the 2011 suicide death of a 14-year-old Aboriginal girl on reserve slams the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development for its failure to protect the child. “This tragedy might well have been prevented had we at least tried to provide some service to a child in distress,” Turpel-Lafond writes in the 110-page report, Lost in the Shadows. Turpel-Lafond said the ministry’s regional office was in disarray and the local Aboriginal agency did not have funding to go on-reserve and support the girl with mental health services. “A situation developed where no one reported abuse and no one investigated it,” the report said. “This dangerous situation occurred during the period of highest need of this child.” Turpel-Lafond also criticized the federal government for ignoring its legal duty to deliver services to on-reserve children with special needs and mental health issues.



Study shows contaminants found in game meat
A study undertaken by the University of Manitoba has found high levels of mercury, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in organs and muscle tissues collected from moose, beavers, muskrats and waterfowl near Fort Chipewyan, Alta. Contaminants found in the organs of the animals traditionally eaten by First Nations people were high enough to be dangerous for regular consumption, although muscle tissue was low enough to be relatively safe, said lead researcher Stephane McLachlan. The correlation between the oilsands industry and heavy metals found in the animals is strong, considering “the oilsands is the largest emitter of arsenic and mercury” in Alberta, he said. The study is part of a holistic research project analysing First Nations in northern Alberta and incorporating local traditional environment, food sources and health.



Test project sees increase in cancer screening
The Under/Never Screened test project, out of the cancer centre in Sudbury, encouraged people in more than 20 First Nations to be screened for breast and colorectal cancer. About 1,700 people took advantage of the screening program during the past three years, increasing rates of breast cancer screening 13 per cent and colorectal screening eight per cent, said Natalie Aubin, a director with the Northeast Cancer Centre. Through collaboration among Aboriginal health organizations, the communities, and the cancer centre, officials said the project identified barriers to cancer screening, such as lack of transportation and culturally appropriate materials and came up with solutions that directly addressed those barriers. “This project represents a major step in ensuring that our citizens are afforded the opportunity to be screened much earlier, and with resultant better outcomes,” said Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee of the Union of Ontario Indians in a press release.



N.W.T. commits to anti-poverty action plan
The government of the Northwest Territories will invest $2.6 million in actions that are being taken now or will be taken to address poverty, including supporting day shelter programs in Yellowknife and Inuvik, building new housing in small communities and providing nutritious food directly to children and youth through established programs. “Government alone cannot eliminate poverty,” said Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy, in a news release. “The GNWT is committed to continuing our work in partnership with non-government organizations, community and Aboriginal governments, business and industry and other partners towards the development of a multi-stakeholder N.W.T. action plan.  I am confident that working together will bring us closer to our goal of eliminating poverty in the Northwest Territories.”



MOU focuses on midwifery care for the marginalized
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives that will improve access to midwifery care amongst younger parents and marginalized members within their networks, like people who are incarcerated, within the criminal justice system or child welfare system, HIV-positive, Two Spirited, Trans and gender non-conforming. Among the goals is to help bridge the gap between culturally safe sex education and midwifery care. The team will mutually support increasing education and the sharing of skills, while collaborating to jointly offer workshops to their communities.