One could forgive federal Health Minister Mark Holland for being a little distracted, which he admitted to during his March 5 funding announcement in Iqaluit, as he had just experienced a family emergency.
Holland said it brought home to him the realities of the discussions heSA国际影视传媒檇 been having in Nunavut about accessibility of care, and being separated from loved ones during their health crises.
SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to say how much I appreciate the conversations ISA国际影视传媒檝e had today SA国际影视传媒� conversations with President [of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated] Aluki Kotierk and with so many othersSA国际影视传媒� the path forward is unquestionably empowering local communities. Making sure that services are provided in peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 homes,SA国际影视传媒� said Holland.
SA国际影视传媒淎s I was saying to President Kotierk just before I got that news, just how difficult to, when youSA国际影视传媒檙e in poor health, to be removed from your family, to have to go so far away because the healthcare needed for your loved oneSA国际影视传媒o be away from all of that is devastating. And so, ISA国际影视传媒檓 making sure that weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing everything we can so that people can get healthcare in their communities, so that seniors donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to leave when they need care, leave places theySA国际影视传媒檝e called home their entire life, their support networks and families. So thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why [Nunavut Health] Minister [John] Main and I are so excited to be here today to talk about two agreements weSA国际影视传媒檝e been working hard on.SA国际影视传媒�
Holland then went on to announce two parts to these agreements that would see $35.6 million flow into NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 healthcare system system over the next three to five years.
Care closer to home
The SA国际影视传媒榃orking Together PlanSA国际影视传媒� would ease access to healthcare at home. The action plan is intended to increase the level of access to primary care across the territory by encouraging education of Inuit healthcare positions in the radiological fields and midwifery to a target of 150 people to five specialists, respectively. It would also expand the paramedic program established in 2021 to all 25 Nunavut communities.
In addition, Qikiqtani HospitalSA国际影视传媒檚 new obstetric-gynaecologic program in Iqaluit would recruit more surgeons, expand the cardio department and invest in nurse practitioner pilot programs. All these initiatives would also SA国际影视传媒渆stablish assessment tools for remote and isolated communities to help understand what communities require, based on population size and population health needs. These tools will assist in the design of primary health care teams in remote settings.SA国际影视传媒�
The plan also intends to focus on attracting more nurses by prioritizing post-secondary education recruitment programs. It would also address essential orthopedic needs by purchasing a much-needed CT scanner, portable MRI and a C-Arm, reducing the need for travel and assessment wait times.
Another target item is the expansion of culturally appropriate mental health, addiction services and specialized care. The funding will support training that ensures Nunavummiut can access Inuit-specific, culturally, and linguistically relevant mental health services and programs.
SA国际影视传媒淛ohn [Main] has been such an advocateSA国际影视传媒� WeSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about training people from the communities that theySA国际影视传媒檙e inSA国际影视传媒hether or not theySA国际影视传媒檙e First Nations, Metis, or Inuit, finding a way to connect themSA国际影视传媒� to careers in medicine so they can serve their own communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Holland.
The second deal involves $12 million towards the Aging with Dignity Agreement, which will be enacted over the next five years in partnership between the two governments.
Broadly, the agreement will ensure home and community care program reviews, expansions, and services, support a stronger local workforce, and enhance long-term care standards within communities. Specific goals include continuing to work with Nunavut Arctic College to SA国际影视传媒渃ontinue developing a tailored personal support worker program to enhance the skills of home and community care workers and continuing care workers in Nunavut, while also supporting their continuing education; and enable nurse practitioners to provide virtual care for long-term care facilities.SA国际影视传媒�
Additional practices will be put in place that focus on Inuit hiring and increasing service hours, as well as other organizational changes to be implemented after a comprehensive review.
Future hopes for healthcare
The goal of all these measures is fundamentally SA国际影视传媒渢o provide quality care to Nunavummiut in all 25 communities, to help them maintain independence and well-being,SA国际影视传媒� said Holland.
Main remarked to Holland, SA国际影视传媒淚 think it would be really exciting to see you come back here one day, in terms of being able to add to your knowledge of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 context, in terms of the challenges that weSA国际影视传媒檙e facing right across the territory in healthcareSA国际影视传媒� weSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about infrastructure gapsSA国际影视传媒nd weSA国际影视传媒檙e also talking about very real logistical issues when it comes to emergency care in the distance between our communities, or how long it takes for a medievac to go from Iqaluit to Ottawa.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 very real challenges, but ISA国际影视传媒檓 encouraged and excited to have a strong federal partner to work with, as well excited by the work with our valued partners at Nunavut TunngavikSA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 in working together we can get through some very real serious challenges, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something that stuck with me today.SA国际影视传媒�
