Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Fitzgerald, Alta (June 13/05) - Michael Miltenberger was grilled about the NWT health system when he appeared before the Akaitcho Territory annual assembly on June 8.

The crack-cocaine epidemic, high turnover of medical professionals, shortage of interpreters for elders seeking medical help and the need for public service advertising on suicide, alcohol and crack cocaine, not just smoking, were among the issues raised.

Miltenberger, the minister of Health, was at the assembly to talk about the Aboriginal Blueprint for Health, a document being developed by the federal, provincial and territorial governments and national aboriginal groups.

The blueprint will help decide how to spend $700 million over five years in federal funding.

The NWT has some unique circumstances, such as high smoking, diabetes and obesity rates, and Miltenberger said "we want to come up with a plan tailored to the NWT."

Follow-up wanted

Chief Robert Sayine of Deninu Ku'e First Nation detailed problems with health and social services delivery in Fort Resolution: lack of programs for youth, access to medical travel and the way some workers treat people.

"It seems like a small community is always at a disadvantage when it comes to these services provided by the government," Sayine said.

Sayine also asked the minister why one elder was sent back and forth to Yellowknife. The nurse in charge should have the authority to send patients to Edmonton, he said.

Miltenberger explained that in the past, millions were spent sending patients south when they could have been treated at Stanton Hospital, which now co-ordinates medical travel.

The NWT continues to struggle with attracting doctors, Miltenberger said. Despite attractive compensation packages, "it's very tough to get doctors to stay longer than a year or two," he said.

Crack concern

Several Akaitcho delegates expressed concern about the growing presence of crack cocaine in their communities.

"The crack addiction is like no other addiction we've experienced in the North. It's scary," said Dave Poitras, an addictions counsellor working in Hay River.

Poitras told Miltenberger more money has to be made available to fight crack.

The minister noted a 2002 report found addictions services to be in disrepair.

Since then, he said salaries and benefits for addictions workers have been upgraded.

The minister also noted there has been pressure to build addiction centres, but he believes more should be done at the community level. "That's where it all begins and where it all ends."