Health Watch - January 2014

Type 2 diabetes developed earlier in Aboriginal adults

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says First Nations adults who develop Type 2 diabetes do so more than a decade earlier than non-Native people, and have double the risk of going on to develop kidney failure. The study, which looked at Type 2 diabetes cases over 25 years in Saskatchewan, found that the mean age for developing diabetes among First Nations people was 47. For non-Aboriginal people, the mean age for developing diabetes is 61. The study’s authors say that because First Nations people develop diabetes at a younger age, they are more likely to get to the point where they develop renal failure. They found that end-stage disease occurred in 2.4 per cent of First Nations people who had diabetes, compared to less than one per cent in non-Aboriginal people with diabetes.

New technology opens care options for patients

Dr. Ivar Mendez, head of surgery for the University of Saskatchewan, is piloting a project he says will revolutionize health care in northern Saskatchewan. “This technology is going to take away the barriers of distance and time. It is going to save countless lives,” he told CTV Saskatoon. ‘Doctor in a box’ connects doctors in centres like Saskatoon or Regina to patients in the province’s most remote locations. The device, developed in California, uses a regular cell phone signal to establish a two-way video link. The box can be connected to everything from an electrocardiogram machine to an ultrasound machine. Vital signs and test results displayed on screen allow the specialist to guide the health care worker through the patient’s treatment. Mendez has plans to introduce Saskatchewan’s first ‘doctor in a box’ to Pelican Narrows.

Breast cancer screening low for Nova Scotia Aboriginal women

Breast Cancer Action Nova Scotia is encouraging Aboriginal women to get regular mammograms and screenings and says lack of literature targeting Aboriginal women is a concern. “When we did the research we realized there was nothing out there for them on this subject and our whole approach as a provincial group is that every woman in the province, regardless of what culture they are part of, should have access to information, breast health information,” executive director Barbara Thompson told CBC News. A BCANS study showed that test rates for women who live off reserves were particularly low. The National Aboriginal Health Organization has also reported that breast cancer among Aboriginal people is on the rise.

New Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health established

The UBC Senate has approved the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, which is set to open in January 2014. The centre will replace the former Institute for Aboriginal Health, which has lacked funding in recent years. Leah Walker, a curriculum developer for the Division of Aboriginal People’s Health who has worked on developing the new centre, said their goal is to preserve programs from the former institute, as well as create an intersection for Aboriginal health programs across a wider range of health disciplines. The new centre will operate within the School of Population and Health, which is established in a variety of different locations.

Aboriginal health set as priority for NWT JLC

The Joint Leadership Council of the Northwest Territories health and social services system has approved a vision statement establishing a goal of operating as a seamless, integrated health and social services system. Priorities for action identified include an increased focus on Aboriginal health. “Setting up the Division of Aboriginal Health and Community Wellness is a step in the right direction,” said public administrator of the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority Jim Antoine in a news release. “Now we need to work with communities.” Members agreed to look for ways to enhance prevention and promotion programs and encourage healthy living. Other priorities include moving forward on implementing collaborative shared services for the system to ensure that all territorial authorities can access shared expertise in areas such as finance, procurement, quality assurance and human resource planning.

Music video raises awareness on help for addiction

The University of Saskatchewan and the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation released Step By Step during National Addictions Awareness Week in November. The project was led by U of S faculty member Colleen Dell in collaboration with Saskatchewan-based musicians Lindsay ‘Eekwol’ Knight and Joseph Naytowhow. The song and music video share the blended story of the important role of treatment professionals and Aboriginal culture in the healing of First Nations, Inuit and MÈtis clients from addictions. The song is a unique mix of Naytowhow’s traditional Aboriginal style and rhythm alongside Knight’s contemporary sound and hip-hop inspired approach. The almost six-minute music video is available on YouTube at www.tinyurl.com/StepByStepSongWatch.

Sagkeeng endorses health care transformation

Sagkeeng First Nation of Manitoba has become the second First Nation to support the Principles to Guide Health Care Transformation in Canada, now endorsed by 133 organizations across the country. The Dene Nation of the Northwest Territories signed on in mid-August. “Quality of health care for First Nations should be paramount for all stakeholders with the ability to make positive change,” said Sagkeeng Chief Donovan Fontaine in a news release. “We believe First Nations can achieve this through collaboration and partnerships with health care professionals and government.” In a report released in July, the Canadian Medical Association found that a comprehensive strategy and supporting investments by the federal government are needed urgently to improve the health of native Canadians in partnership with non-government organizations and Indigenous communities.

Cultural programming for violence against women survivors

The Athabasca Health Authority’s Violence Against Women Survivor Cultural Healing project has received $18,320 in federal funding through the Aboriginal Women’s Programming Element of the Aboriginal People’s Program. The AHA will provide Dene women from three remote northern Saskatchewan communities affected by family violence with the opportunity to participate in a series of culturally relevant workshops led by a female Elder. Participants will share their experiences, connect with their cultural identities and learn traditional skills. Activities include participating in sharing circles, traditional gatherings and feasts and learning cooking, beading and hunting techniques. “Our goal is to help women who have suffered from inter-personal violence to begin their healing journey, through Dene cultural activities and with the safe guidance of an Elder, mental health therapist, and family home visiting worker,” said Jennifer Conley, CEO of the Athabasca Health Authority, in a news release.