Bursary could help relieve student financial woes

There have been numerous ongoing reports pointing out that the state of Aboriginals health in Canada is sub par when compared to the general populace. One institution is making efforts to ensure that Aboriginal health makes a 180, and declines no further.
The Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF) has expressed a strong concern towards what they refer to as "inequalities of the health status of Canada's Aboriginal people." A health expectancy that is five to ten years less than the Canadian average, and an infant mortality rate that is two to three times above the Canadian average are just a couple of the inequalities that the CMF would like to change.
Other concerns are the diabetes rate; mainly Type Two Diabetes which has been a consistent plague for First Nations. The rate for Canadian Aboriginals averages three to five times higher than the rest of Canada. Tuberculosis, a highly infectious disease clocks in at ten times the rate for average Canadians.
However, one of the biggest concerns is accessibility. The ratio of Aboriginal physicians compared to Aboriginals is certainly a ratio the CMF intends to address. Hence the creation of a bursary for undergraduate Aboriginal medical students.
Created to provide financial support during medical training, this year the bursary will provide a maximum of $4,000 per academic year. A total of $40,000 will be available in total for the academic year. However next year, the bursary will become even more generous.
"Our board just recently made a commitment to next year to increase the funding to $100,000 every year," said Kristin Smith, Director of Communications & Operations, who added that it's a primary focus for the CMF.
Being that most Aboriginal students struggle financially, the bursary was a welcome addition.
"The Canadian Medical Foundation bursary makes a world of difference. It relieves so much stress to know that I have help with that debt load, that I can keep on pushing to get where I want to go, and that I can keep my dream of being a physician alive and well," explained Melanie Halvorsen in a press release, who is now a third year medical student.
"I really believe that being a physician may give me the ability to reach out and really help people through difficult times," said Halvorsen. "Plus, the ability to apply my knowledge to major health issues like environmentally borne illnesses and epidemics is really important to me."
A report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information weighed in on all the potential causes for the less than stellar health record of Aboriginals.
The report states that the average educational attainment is lower for Aboriginal peoples, fewer Aboriginal peoples are employed and their average incomes are lower. These factors could be contributing to their lower health status relative to non-Aboriginal people in Canada.
Housing is at least 33 per cent higher of First Nations and Inuit people, compared to 18 per cent of non-Aboriginal people, that live in inadequate, unsuitable or unaffordable housing, according to data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Poor housing has been associated with a host of health problems. For example, tuberculosis rates increase with crowded housing.
The report notes that Aboriginal peoples also identify the legacy of residential schools as a unique determinant of health. In two surveys, six out of 10 First Nation and Métis respondents identified residential schools as a significant contributor to poorer health status.
According to the report, climate change and contaminants is also one of the potential causes attributing to poor health among Aboriginals.
The state of the physical environment and the affects of global climate change effect all Canadians.The environment is particularly important for Inuit because it affects a cornerstone of Inuit life-the harvesting and eating of traditional food. Research suggests that considerable changes in climate are already occurring in the North that could have direct negative impacts on Inuit health, including changes in weather patterns and increased exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Research suggests that efforts to preserve and promote cultural practices and to control and manage resources are to be related to Aboriginal people's health status.
There are other bursaries available to the students as well. A $1,000 bursary, in honour of Dr. Jack Armstrong will be handed out to students who display an interest, experience, and capacity to address Aboriginal health. It is understood that the bursary program for Aboriginal med students was his brainchild.
The CMF also offers the Dr John Big Canoe scholarship as well, which offers $2,000 to those students who perform strong academically, and have shown significant contributions to the Aboriginal community.
The CMF are quite pleased with the opportunity to contribute to the future of Aboriginal students aiming for the medical profession.
"We're absolutely thrilled. This year at out strategic planning session we identified it as one of our main priorities to raise funds for and to increase the funding for Aboriginal med students." expressed Smith.
To find out more information about the bursaries, log on to www.medicalfoundation.ca/page/en/aboriginal_bursary