Deal Reached To Address Native Health In Saskatoon

Deal Reached To Address Native Health In Saskatoon

Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 14:38

Improving the health of Aboriginal people in the Saskatoon Health Region is the focus of a new partnership signed today by the organization, the Kinistin First Nation and the Central Urban Metis Federation Incorporated.

Work is already being done within the agreement, as two Aboriginal Health Coordinators have been hired by the health region — one First Nations and one Metis — to identify health problems in the Aboriginal community and what needs to be done to address them.

Kinistin Chief Felix Thomas says one just has to walk through the dialysis unit at St. Paul’s hospital to see an issue that needs to be addressed — high Aboriginal diabetes rates.

The three partners, along with the coordinators, will develop a strategy that will look at changing how health services are delivered, so that they include increased accessibility and incorporating Aboriginal culture and spirituality.

They say they will also look at other things that contribute to people’s health, like poverty.