Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a government, sometimes we do face challenges with a lack of resources to provide certain programs and services in the Northwest Territories. As a result, we often have to partner up with organizations from the South, and a particular organization is the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Although it’s June, I’d like to take time to reflect that the month of May was, and is, Vision Health Month, and actually the Senate of Canada officially declared May as Vision Health Month.
As the primary provider of vision rehabilitation programs and services to Northwest Territories residents with vision loss, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Alberta and Northwest Territories Division knows first-hand the importance of vision health.
At this time I would like Members and residents of the Northwest Territories to consider some of the following facts about vision health and vision loss. Seventy-five percent of vision loss is avoidable through prevention or treatment. Many serious eye conditions have no symptoms and can only be detected through a comprehensive eye exam. Even someone with 20/20 vision may be at risk, and those working with vision loss face additional health risks such as clinical depression, increased risk of falls and increased admittance rates into nursing homes.
In the Northwest Territories there are more than 1,000 residents living with vision loss. This number is expected to grow exponentially with an aging population. As you heard hear earlier today, the seniors demographic has been growing at a rate of more than 5 percent a year, as the Minister of Health alluded to a little earlier today.
The first step towards avoiding vision loss is to visit a vision health professional to receive a comprehensive eye exam. For more information, members of the public, health professionals, Members of the Legislative Assembly can actually find more information by visiting the CNIB website, cnib.ca.
At this time I would like to thank Mr. John J. McDonald, the executive director and regional vice-president of the CNIB Alberta/Northwest Territories Division for contacting all Members of the Legislative Assembly to recognize the important work that they are doing for residents of the Northwest Territories in bringing this important matter to the table for all Members of the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
