Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/br...on-northern-reserves-say-chiefs-48188812.html
Field hospitals needed to battle flu on northern reserves, say chiefs
By: Mia Rabson
16/06/2009 4:39 PM |
OTTAWA - Chiefs from the Island Lake region in Manitoba want the government to set up a field hospital in their communities to handle the surge of patients with flu symptoms.
Chiefs from three of the four Island communities ? Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point and Wasagamack ? were in the nation?s capital Tuesday hoping to get a face-to-face meeting with the ministers of health and Indian affairs so they could ask for more help.
More than 20 cases of H1N1 influenza have been confirmed among residents from Island Lake, many of whom have been transported to hospital in Winnipeg by air ambulance.
"We are asking the federal government to meet with us before it gets worse," said Chief Jerry Knott, the chair of the Island Lake Tribal Council and Chief of Wasagamack.
More than10,000 people live in the four Island Lake reserves, which are among the most impoverished in Manitoba. In St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill, more than half the homes do not have running water, making public health advice to wash hands frequently far more difficult.
Requests for hand sanitizer to distribute to residents have been met with a shipment to the nursing stations, but the sanitizer is not available for use among residents, said Garden Hill Chief David Harper.
He said he spent $15,000 to buy masks and hand sanitizer, money that was intended for the school graduation.
NDP MP Niki Ashton visited St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill over the weekend and said residents are scared.
She said she is embarrassed as a Canadian to see the conditions people are living in and the lack of response from Ottawa.
Field hospitals needed to battle flu on northern reserves, say chiefs
By: Mia Rabson
16/06/2009 4:39 PM |
OTTAWA - Chiefs from the Island Lake region in Manitoba want the government to set up a field hospital in their communities to handle the surge of patients with flu symptoms.
Chiefs from three of the four Island communities ? Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point and Wasagamack ? were in the nation?s capital Tuesday hoping to get a face-to-face meeting with the ministers of health and Indian affairs so they could ask for more help.
More than 20 cases of H1N1 influenza have been confirmed among residents from Island Lake, many of whom have been transported to hospital in Winnipeg by air ambulance.
"We are asking the federal government to meet with us before it gets worse," said Chief Jerry Knott, the chair of the Island Lake Tribal Council and Chief of Wasagamack.
More than10,000 people live in the four Island Lake reserves, which are among the most impoverished in Manitoba. In St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill, more than half the homes do not have running water, making public health advice to wash hands frequently far more difficult.
Requests for hand sanitizer to distribute to residents have been met with a shipment to the nursing stations, but the sanitizer is not available for use among residents, said Garden Hill Chief David Harper.
He said he spent $15,000 to buy masks and hand sanitizer, money that was intended for the school graduation.
NDP MP Niki Ashton visited St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill over the weekend and said residents are scared.
She said she is embarrassed as a Canadian to see the conditions people are living in and the lack of response from Ottawa.