Inuvik (June 16/03) - At 25, Alfred Moses is taking on the social and health ills of his community and the Beaufort Delta region.

The community health representative, was born and raised in Inuvik and is considered a role model to the youth in the community.

News/North: What do you do in your position?

Alfred Moses: I deal a lot with health promotion and prevention, setting up booths around town, giving presentations in the schools and communities.

Since I've been in the position I've been a big advocate of non-smoking and tobacco issues. I got on to town council last fall which made it an even easier step to make a bylaw in the community.

I wouldn't say I was done tackling the tobacco issues, but it is my greatest accomplishment in the past two years.

The position also allows me to go out to do some programs with the schools and the elders. As long as it deals with healthy living, healthy choices, health promotion and prevention -- I deal with it.

N/N: Why is it important to have someone like yourself in the community?

AM: I think it's important to have the CHR position because they are the front-line workers in the communities. They're the ones who give the presentations. They're the ones who find out what the issues are and try to address them and bring them forth to people to find solutions the best way they can.

N/N: When you went away to college is this specifically what you wanted to do?

AM: It's not specifically what I wanted to do, but it does work for me. When I went to school I got a two-year diploma in kinesiology and sports studies. I did a third year of physical education at the University of Alberta.

My ultimate goal was to become a physical education teacher. And it still is.

But this CHR position, I didn't even know it existed until I saw it advertised. I really thought it was an office job at first so I didn't want to take it.

There's a lot of interaction with the public. I thought it was something I could try for a while and I've been here for two years. It's a great job.

N/N: What are some of the health issues you deal with in the communities?

AM: A lot of social economic issues: alcohol, drugs, tobacco and some hard drugs. In Inuvik there are more of the hard core drugs coming into town and seeing that as having a very negative impact on the community.

We also see issues with life and social skills within the teenage population and that can easily get into substance abuse. All the issues you see with a small community, I've witnessed.

It's very hard to deal with all of them.

N/N: What are some of the challenges you face?

AM: Just co-operation from some of the organizations. The lack of co-operation, or the lack of participation from some of the public. Also, it's very frustrating when you try to educate and prompt healthy lifestyles and prevention in a community and people don't necessarily listen all of the time.

N/N: How do you try to combat that?

AM: I just keep on pushing. Right now the big thing with the tobacco campaign -- it's what I'm known for in town here -- it was really hard getting through to teenagers. It was almost a lost cause.

The way I deal with it is going into the elementary school and dealing with the younger kids before they become pre-teens and teenagers.

I continue to find other areas to work in and find partnerships. I try different solutions and different approaches and try to see what works best.

N/N: You're so enthusiastic, what motivates you to keep going?

AM: I like doing my job. I really like coming into work. I guess growing up I had some role models to guide me along the way and show me the right way and the right choices.

I feel like I can offer that to the community.

A lot of people are trying to quit smoking, a lot of people say they're trying to exercise more, or eat a little healthier. Just the little changes in their lives that they're trying to make an effort to be healthy, or even just recognizing their problems motivates me because I know I'm getting through to some people.

It's one of those things. If you don't do anything or try to say anything, everything will stay the same.