Inuvik (July 06/01) - The need to translate more materials and develop an Inuit policy on health partnerships and related issues, were among the recommendations made last week at the conclusion of the first National Inuit Health Information Conference.

Kerrie Duncan

Delegates to the conference, which wrapped up June 28, also agreed that health documents should be written in plain language, and that research protocols are needed to publicly acknowledge any involvement by Inuit in research on health in their communities.

The Inuit Tapirisat of Canada organized the conference, which drew 50 delegates from across the North.

Afterwards, Kerrie Duncan, national health information co-ordinator for the Tapirisat, said people left with a bit more direction.

"Our overall conference objective was to address the relative absence of health information on Inuit," Duncan said.

"Inuit want to have control over the areas to information that's collected on them, or something that ensures Inuit are informed of what kind of information is being recorded about them."

Duncan said the recommendations will serve as a guide for the future.

Nellie Cournoyea, chair of the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, told delegates their recommendations were fine, but that one big problem facing Northern communities should be addressed right away.

Cournoyea explained that health professionals are in short supply, as are mental health workers, and drug and alcohol workers. She said that health is more than one's physical condition, and that the well-being of a community is important to the health of its residents.

"Until we find a way to get a solution to that problem, a lot of the people in the communities are becoming very frustrated," Cournoyea said.

She pointed out that sometimes preventative care programs that should be run in schools are not held due to lack of staff in a community.

Cournoyea said Ottawa and the territorial government aren't doing enough to address the staffing issue, and noted that competitive salaries, proper housing and living environment are the biggest components.

"Your recommendations are important, but at the same time, I would like you all to come out of here very strongly telling the government to get on with it."