sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
First Nations leaders call for help to deal with HIN1 flu
Posted By TIMMINS DAILY PRESS
Posted 9 hours ago
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- First Nation leaders are calling for action from the federal and provincial government to deal with the swine flu outbreak.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler were part of a recent teleconference with Health Canada.
Beardy and Fiddler were informed there are 13 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in six NAN First Nations.
"Our situation is very much like Mexico, where you have people living in poor and cramped conditions that need to be taken into consideration as the governments roll out their responses to our medical needs," Beard said.
"We are seeing clusters of outbreaks that have potential to move quickly through the population.
"We need to ensure that our people will have adequate medical attention as well as adequate medical supplies to address their health concerns if the need arises."
Health Canada said existing staff could be redeployed to communities if needed.
It is also looking to develop an agreement with the Ontario government to bring additional medical staff and supplies to First Nations that have reported H1N1 outbreaks.
Fiddler said both levels of government are reacting too slowly.
"Even though the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, neither Canada nor Ontario have followed suit and yet, in our communities, H1N1 is spreading and has reached an outbreak status in one First Nation," he said. "That is compelling evidence that the situation is an emerging pandemic."
Sandy Lake First Nation, about 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, reached outbreak status last with with 10 confirmed cases.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation represents 49 First Nations communities in an area covering two thirds of the province.
Fiddler said more help is needed to prevent the flu from spreading across the vast territory.
"Any attempts to contain an emerging pandemic in remote First Nations is a community-wide, resource and labour-intensive operation," he said.
"Both levels of government must guarantee additional support such as personnel, supplies and other logistical needs are met."
http://www.northernnews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1626778
Posted By TIMMINS DAILY PRESS
Posted 9 hours ago
<table style=""> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 521px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top;">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
- First Nation leaders are calling for action from the federal and provincial government to deal with the swine flu outbreak.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy and Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler were part of a recent teleconference with Health Canada.
Beardy and Fiddler were informed there are 13 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in six NAN First Nations.
"Our situation is very much like Mexico, where you have people living in poor and cramped conditions that need to be taken into consideration as the governments roll out their responses to our medical needs," Beard said.
"We are seeing clusters of outbreaks that have potential to move quickly through the population.
"We need to ensure that our people will have adequate medical attention as well as adequate medical supplies to address their health concerns if the need arises."
Health Canada said existing staff could be redeployed to communities if needed.
It is also looking to develop an agreement with the Ontario government to bring additional medical staff and supplies to First Nations that have reported H1N1 outbreaks.
Fiddler said both levels of government are reacting too slowly.
"Even though the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, neither Canada nor Ontario have followed suit and yet, in our communities, H1N1 is spreading and has reached an outbreak status in one First Nation," he said. "That is compelling evidence that the situation is an emerging pandemic."
Sandy Lake First Nation, about 600 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, reached outbreak status last with with 10 confirmed cases.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation represents 49 First Nations communities in an area covering two thirds of the province.
Fiddler said more help is needed to prevent the flu from spreading across the vast territory.
"Any attempts to contain an emerging pandemic in remote First Nations is a community-wide, resource and labour-intensive operation," he said.
"Both levels of government must guarantee additional support such as personnel, supplies and other logistical needs are met."
http://www.northernnews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1626778