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Greenland health conference draws locals

Topics include child health, diabetes

Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 14/03) - Northern health care professionals face unique challenges due to the climate, the isolation of communities they serve, and the types of diseases they see.

That is why people like Dr. Sandy Macdonald, director of medical services at the Baffin Regional Hospital, are more than willing to take time out of their schedules to attend the annual International Congress on Circumpolar Health, now in it's 12th year.

Everything from the newest drugs to the latest research is revealed by Northern health care workers who are dealing with the very issues in their homeland they are discussing.

This year the conference will take place in Nuuk, Greenland, Sept. 11-14.

Invited speakers will give lectures on diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Greenland, children and youth in the Arctic, Arctic tele-health, and the prevention of viral hepatitis in Alaska.

Macdonald says the conference is a great way to network with people dealing with similar health care concerns, and hear about new research going on.

"It's all about Northern health, and the topics are wide open," he said. "A range of participants take part, from scientists to lay people."

Also attending from Nunavut will be Dr. Patty deMaio, physician, Pond Inlet; Dr. Juri Botha, chief of staff, Iqaluit; Gail Redpath, nurse in charge, Arctic Bay; Ainiak Korgak, manager, health promotion, Iqaluit; Mary Akpalialuk, health promotion, Iqaluit; Lori Idlout, director of policy, Iqaluit.

Presenting workshops about research being done in Nunavut will be Amber Jackson, regional home care, Cambridge Bay; Robert Phillips, Cambridge Bay; Sylvia Healy, manager health information, Iqaluit; and Ann Lovold, midwife, Rankin Inlet; and Ben Van den assem, professional practitioner, Kugluktuk.