Aglukkaq announces funding for new health initiatives
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, March 23, 2015
IQALUIT
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq travelled to Iqaluit last week to announce an investment of more than $32 million over three years to strengthen access to services in the areas of mental wellness, chronic disease, and children's oral health and reduce reliance on out-of-territory health systems and medical travel.
"By supporting strengthened health-care services in Nunavut we are ultimately supporting strong communities and healthy people," stated Aglukkaq, who made the announcement on behalf of federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose.
"Our government is committed to working with Nunavummiut in the delivery of community-based, culturally-relevant programs that promote good physical and mental health, and a healthy start in life."
The investment is going to the Territorial Health Investment Fund. A total of $6.9 million over the same three years is to help provide services and treatments in dental health, and also allow for an increase in dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists and local community oral health co-ordinators.
Some $17 million will be directed to Nunavut's Department of Health to help offset the continued cost burden associated with medical travel, $3 million will used to increase the number of clinical dieticians and the implementation of territorial standards for food services in facilities, $3 million will help reduce chronic disease and improve nutrition standards and $6 million will be contributed to a pan-territorial project called e-mental health as well as other innovative strategies for mental health services in remote communities.
