Debates of March 31, 2004 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services to table some information on TB in the Northwest Territories, and this morning I received a report on the action plan for TB in the Northwest Territories. They had an expert do the work, and this report included 26 recommendations to improve the Northwest Territories TB program. It talks about early detection and decreasing the spread of this contagious disease. Mr. Speaker, in light of that, I would like to ask the Minister if he is willing to commit to work with the Minister of Education in terms of ventilation, to prevent the spread of TB in the Chief Albert Wright School where there are ventilation issues and overcrowding of the students. The health of our students is of concern to our community of Tulita. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government, as a department, we're committed to the recommendations made with regard to TB and responding to the need to better deal with that particular situation. My comments to situations that may involve the school is that yes, I will give the commitment that we will be working closely with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. We have meetings planned in the near future with the social envelope to talk about issues where we have common concerns and obligations. So that will be on the list.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Also in the report to date, in 2004, there were five new cases of TB reported in the Northwest Territories. It's my understanding from looking at the report that TB is a quiet disease. Early detection and surveillance of TB in the North is required. I'm mostly talking about small communities like Colville Lake. I want to ask the Minister how does the department propose to educate and implement this action plan in small communities like Colville Lake where there are minimal health services by such large centres like Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife in terms of the TB strategy in the North. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will be working with the Sahtu health board that has been set up in the Sahtu. We will be working with, of course, Inuvik through the transition period. We have the staff out of headquarters, we have the staff at the regional level, as well as the staff in the nursing stations. We've made a special effort to ensure that our protocols are up to date, that we have the proper checks and balances in place to ensure that the issue of TB is front and centre, and we encourage people to get checked. So we are going to be working with all the communities in the Northwest Territories to make sure that we stay on top of the issue of TB.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister about the training programs. I know you have been working with the Sahtu health board and the other communities. I want to ask abut the training programs in the regions. In the report you talk about the Inuvik regional health board, the Hay River regional health board and so forth in terms of the training programs for the smaller communities; especially in the Sahtu, I'm not too sure. Has the department given any indications in terms of providing some training in the Sahtu communities in terms of the TB? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 129-15(3): Implementing The Action Plan On Tuberculosis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the Member that we are fully committed to involving the Sahtu, and at the time that report was drafted and written it was done when the Sahtu was still part of the Inuvik region. In any future reports, they will recognize that there is a separate health board and authority in the Sahtu. But the point of the question being that every community in the Northwest Territories is going to be paid attention to when it comes to dealing with tuberculosis. Thank you.

Final supplementary. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.