by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Sep 03/97) - The MLA for Kivallik, Kevin O'Brien is concerned about the health of Keewatin residents.

Last Wednesday he announced at a press conference that he will be asking NWT Commissioner Helen Maksagak to call a public inquiry into the KRHB.

He's not happy with a recent decision by the board not to renew a medical services contract with the Northern Medical Unit.

"Why are we changing a system that works, a system that the people in the Keewatin trust and are basically comfortable with?" said O'Brien.

"It appears the Keewatin Regional Health Board may be throwing the baby out with the bath."

This is the third call for an inquiry into the same situation this summer.

The first was called by the Union of Northern Workers in late July.

UNW president Jackie Simpson asked for the Keewatin "rat's nest" to be aired out.

The UNW says a number of conflicts of interest existed among board members when it decided to privatize dental therapy services.

Less than a month later, Rankin Inlet's hamlet council called for an inquiry in the health board for the same reason and because they wanted to investigate why the NMU contract was not renewed.

Prior to this request the council also sent a letter to Kelvin Ng forcing the chairperson's resignation.

O'Brien will be asking the commissioner for the NMU contract to be re-instated to ensure proper medical personnel and services are available to the people of the Keewatin.

"Basically what we want to see happen is a public inquiry that will ensure that health services with the status quo until the new government of Nunavut is in place in 1999," he said.

Ng has said no to the two inquiry requests prior to O'Brien's. And last week he stated again that he's not interested in doing any inquiries.

"The KRHB haven't done anything to jeopardize health care in the region," said Health Minister Kelvin Ng, who telephoned from the Cambridge Bay airport last Friday, en route to Kugluktuk.

Ng is confident the board's decisions will improve medical services in the Keewatin because of the simple fact that they're recruiting general practitioners to work directly for the board, in the community.

Part of the reason why there is so much dissent, skeptism and fear is because the KRHB has not been providing enough information and communication to the community, said Ng.

But that's about to change.

"There is a real serious effort now on their part to expand or improve communications," he said.

The KRHB, he noted, has been meeting with hamlet councils to try and alleviate concerns. They've already visited Baker Lake and is scheduled to travel to Arviat.

And on Sept. 8, a meeting is scheduled in Rankin Inlet for all Kivalliq mayors and health board officials to discuss any further health concerns.