"It's a major problem here," MacNeil said. "And now we can address the whole problem at once."

MacNeil, who alternates monthly visits with Dr. David Ratcliffe, said other problems are getting resolved as well.

"There was a centre for young teenagers who had become pregnant, but because of lack of participation, it closed over the past few years."

In the wake of Dr. Ken Hedges' resignation as the Keewatin's chief doctor, made to bring attention to the shortage of nurses in that region, people in the Sahtu say the nurses are as good as the turnover is fast.

"It's hard to get nurses to stay," said Fort McPherson head nurse Marg Lachmuch. "It's the same problem as anywhere."

Lachmuch said nurses usually stay for about six months to a year before moving on, and this is largely because of the isolation, cold and the strain of constantly being on call.

A campaign to sell the North as an attractive and lucrative place for doctors to practise is under way with a focus on the Maritimes, said Inuvik Regional Health Board chief executive officer Ray Scott.

But the board faces stiff competition from the provinces, which are increasingly able to offer competitive salaries.

"A lot of the provinces are hiring in a big way," Scott said. "And we can't pay the big salaries in the NWT anymore."

Despite dwindling resources, Lachmuch said no tragedies can be blamed on keeping a skeleton staff.

"We can't turn them (patients) away," she said. "The situation is stable and they can be medevaced out within about an hour."

In Fort Good Hope, community health worker Henry Tobac said many people are concerned about ensuring elders eat balanced meals and get help with regular needs if their families are not there.

"There is a whole new program that has been going for about a year now on home care service," he said.

"The responsibility is shared between bands, families and the community."

In addition to ensuring the elders eat meals from the four food groups, Tobac said chores such as cutting firewood and generally helping them out are important for their health.