Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 14/00) - Six Filipino nurses may be on their way to relieve the severe staffing problem in the Kitikmeot.

That news has at least one health official in the region feeling relieved.

"It takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders," said Casey Adlem, the Department of Health and Social Services' acting executive director in the Kitikmeot.

"We've been facing this (nursing) shortage for the last five years. We're happy and we're looking forward to them coming."

The news comes shortly after Health Minister Ed Picco's recent decision to move nurses from the Baffin region to the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq to prevent health centres from closing their doors. Adlem said word came from a recruitment company in Ontario that six nurses from the Philippines were looking for work.

"They sent us the information to see if we were interested. We took it to see if we could proceed," said Adlem.

"Any interest from nurses coming to our region is good news to us."

Offers of two-year contracts have gone out and Adlem said she hoped to have confirmation of their acceptance sometime in the next few weeks.

Once the nurses have committed themselves to working in one of the region's five hamlets, Adlem said arrangements for the necessary work permits and licenses would be made, enabling them to begin their jobs as early as January of 2001.

Until that time, casual nurses, and nurses hired out by agencies, will continue to fill the gaps. Of the 16 nursing positions open in Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay) and Taloyoak, 13 are filled by short-term employees.

Adlem said with two nurses scheduled to begin work in Taloyoak and Cambridge Bay this fall, the addition of six more will make a big difference to the quality of care available to patients.

"If they're coming for a two-year term, we'll have continuity for two years. That makes it much easier on the community and the clients when they're dealing with the nurses. It's a big plus for any community," said Adlem.

"The relationship between a nurse and client is so important."

While the news buys the region security for a period of time, Adlem said it was crucial that they continue to work on solutions for the long-term.

"We'll be looking for more for the years to come. We're happy, but we have to keep it coming."