Hobbema schools reopen in wake of whooping cough epidemic

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Hobbema schools have reopened in the wake of a whooping cough epidemic which affected more than 500 people in the past few weeks while Grouard School, north of High Prairie, remains closed because one teacher became infected and others showed symptoms of the disease.

The outbreak, which prompted Native leader Roy Louis to demand a federal review of the Alberta Health Care Commission, was downplayed by Hobbema health center officials during an emergency meeting last week.

The epidemic, which began in early September, forced the closing of several Hobbema schools including one day care and a kindergarten.

"It wasn't that bad, nobody had died," said Chief Simon Threefingers of Louis Bull Band who attended the Feb 13 meeting at Nisku Inn in Edmonton.

He did stress, however, communication at the reserve level regarding health awareness needs to be improved.

Despite a staff increase at the health center it could take another six to eight weeks before the numbers begin to decline, according to Health and Welfare Canada officials.

In northern Alberta, the Grouard school board closed Feb. 2, said Sharon Yanicki, a nurse with the High Prairie health unit.

"There wasn't enough staff to keep the doors open," she said.

Test results on the number of students have not yet come in.

In response to the Hobbema outbreak, federal officials plan t hire workers to transport residents to and from the health center for immunization.

But the Louis Bull Band has already hired someone on its reserve to do the job.

"We are the only band to appoint someone to transport people to the clinic," said Threefingers.

"When I went down to the health center, I saw people take their kids in. I was glad they (band members) were doing something about it," he said.

The Hobbema Health Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. All schools which closed because of the epidemic have reopened now.

On weekends when the Hobbema Health Center closes its doors, people have to use the health facilities in Ponoka and Edmonton.

":It shouldn't be closed," noted Chief Threefingers.

In January, when whooping cough reached epidemic proportions in Hobbema, IAA president Roy Louis was outrages.

As a result, an emergency Alberta all-chiefs meeting was held so Hobbema chiefs could meet other Native leaders to discuss the growing concern about health standards on the reserve level.