Northern Saskatchewan Medical Health Officers meet with Community Leaders on Health and Safety Updates

Dr. Veronica McKinney, Dr. Isaac Sobel, Dr. David Poon are Northern Medical Health officers (MHO) and meet with northern leaders every Wednesday to report to community leaders and service providers. On January 10, 2024 the first meeting for the new year the MHOs met with Candyce Paul, Mayor Georgina Jolibois, Chris Lafontaine and Rick Laliberte. They were joined by Dr. Udoka Okpalauwaekwe a researcher from the University of Saskatchewan.

The issue of dog bites in northern communities was highlighted as a major issue. The challenges of limited or no funding and resources available to the Northern Village was reported by Mayor Jolibois, since the partnership with the Veterinarian College at the University was discontinued. The frustration with the Provincial Government in not recognizing this as a priority was expressed by the Mayor.

Dr. McKinney states that "Covid  hasn’t gone anywhere" despite that the governments have declared it an endemic. The effects of covid on our immune system and the implications of ‘long covid’ are troubling as are increases in Tuberculosis (TB), Influenzas, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Pneumonia. The changes in policy on providing Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) to the public is coming to an end and is concerning due to the similar symptoms with colds and flu, the doctors explain. Air quality and air exchange also has a direct impact to health in homes and public spaces.

The inter-jurisdictional gaps between provincial Municiplalities and federal First Nations is creating problems in planning and communications for emergency response and preparedness. Another emerging concern is around ‘data sovereignty’ for Indigenous communities on health issues and trends.