IGLULIK - Iglulik's continuing care centre is officially open, with three patients already receiving care in the facility.

Iglulik's continuing care centre officially opened Nov. 30, with three patients already receiving care in the facility. - photo courtesy of the Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services

The one-storey, $9.5 million facility can accept 10 patients for long-term palliative or respite care. Construction of the building was completed in 2009 but the official opening wasn't until Nov. 30 as some people were not available beforehand.

Iglulik Mayor Lucasie Ivvalu said the community is very happy the centre is officially open.

"We needed this building so that those who needed help could stay in Nunavut, and Iglulik welcomes them all," he said. "This is why it's so important for Iglulikmiut to have a facility like that - so that we can help out the other communities who need the facility in more ways than one."

He said the building the care centre occupies is nice, as well.

The centre has a nurse manager, four certified nursing assistants, a recreational therapist, eight continuing care workers, one cook and one janitor/driver on staff.

At the opening ceremony there were speeches, drum dancing, singing and the lighting of the qulliq. It was attended by Premier Eva Aariak and Gogi Greeley, the acting assistant deputy minister of operations for the Department of Health and Social Services. Greeley said the continuing care workers at the facility are Inuit from Iglulik and trained within the community.

"We're very happy that we're able to support Nunavummiut in continuing care in Nunavut," she said.

"Very important for the government to have people receiving care in the communities. We're able to provide services to Nunavummiut without having to access services out of the territory."

She added the feedback she received from the people of Iglulik was positive.

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