News	News category

Travelling Inuit health survey begins work in Tuktoyaktuk

11.08.2008 16:00 Health - Source: cbc.ca

Medical researchers aboard the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Amundsen are in remote western Arctic communities this month to continue their work on the first comprehensive survey of Inuit health in Canada.

The Amundsen has been converted to a floating health lab for the Inuit health survey. The icebreaker arrived in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., on Sunday.

The ship is in the western Arctic hamlet until Tuesday, when it will go to Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok before heading eastward to western Nunavut by month's end.

Inuit and Inuvialuit in those communities are invited to board the ship and answer questions about their health, nutrition, lifestyle and well-being. Researchers also run clinical tests on the participants for health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The entire process takes about three hours for each participant.

"We get an overview that we can't get through the [community] health centres," McGill University professor Dr. Grace Egeland, the survey's principal investigator, told CBC News.

"This can provide information back on priority areas for the future."

2nd year for survey

The Inuit health survey, also known as Qanuippitali? — Inuktitut for, "How about us, how are we?" — began in August 2007, when the Amundsen dropped anchor in 18 coastal communities in Nunavut.

Researchers surveyed 1,214 Inuit adults in the territory's Baffin and Kivalliq regions that year.

This year's survey effort expands to include Inuit living outside Nunavut, including the Inuvialuit of the Northwest Territories and Inuit living in the Nunatsiavut region of Labrador.

"If I live in Paulatuk and I see this ship coming in, the technology is coming to me, rather than I have to go to Inuvik, down to Yellowknife, down to Edmonton to have access to these services," said Inuvik Community Corp. manager Esther Allen, who is helping the survey team.

"I would feel a sense of responsibility to come in and say, 'I want to take part in this survey.'"

Allen said northern health centres are able to treat the ill, but do not always have the resources or time to examine the root causes of illness in the communities.

The Inuit health survey, Allen said, can pinpoint ways that health care can be delivered better in remote northern communities.

"It's not enough to talk about … 'We have high incidents of violence, we have high incidence of people developing diabetes, we have high incidents of sexually transmitted diseases.' This will be the foundation to begin to make changes," she said.

McGill University's Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment is leading the $8-million project as part of International Polar Year research. It is being funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, and is also getting federal International Polar Year funding.

Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

Internal Links

Inuit health survey kicks off for 2008 Major Inuit health survey drops anchor in Nunavut

External Links

Inuit health survey

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)

Health Headlines

Few U.S. mothers meet breastfeeding goal: studyMore U.S. moms are trying to breastfeed, but most don't stick with for six months as recommended, according to a new study.Vacations put extra strain on pharmacist shortage A drop in new pharmacy graduates has exacerbated a shortage of professionals staffing pharmacies across Newfoundland and Labrador.Calif. legislators consider bisphenol A banResponding to growing consumer anxiety, California legislators are considering enacting restrictions on a chemical found in plastic baby bottles and infant formula cans.Feds revamp stance on idling after meeting with drive-thru groupA federal government website that highlights the negative health and environmental effects of idling your engine has made changes to its message after meeting with a group representing drive-thru restaurants.Travelling Inuit health survey begins work in TuktoyaktukMedical researchers aboard the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Amundsen are in remote western Arctic communities this month to continue their work on the first comprehensive survey of Inuit health in Canada.

Health Features

FOOD SAFETYInfrared heat A new wavelength for food security AIDS RESEARCHLife expectancy Big jump in survival rates for those on HIV drugs IN DEPTHLyme disease Tiny tick, big problem ANOTHER VIEWDrugs and driving New law a 'positive step', analyst says HEALTH & FITNESSPeter Hadzipetros Running from wrinkles HEALTHTrans fats

People who read this also read …

Add comment

Last added news

End of P.E.I. needle exchange worries health officer 04.12.2008 16:00 The planned shutdown of P.E.I.'s needle exchange has the province's deputy chief health officer worried about the spread of hepatitis C and AIDS.

Stronger rules coming for reporting errors in N.L. hospitals 04.12.2008 12:01 Still stinging from revelations that have come out during a judicial inquiry into breast cancer testing mistakes, the Newfoundland and Labrador government says it is introducing more sweeping rules to protect patient safety.

Zimbabwe cholera outbreak killed nearly 500, WHO says 04.12.2008 12:00 A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed nearly 500 people in the largest outbreak recorded recently, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

81 children in B.C. killed themselves in last 4 years: report 04.12.2008 03:27 Suicide is the second-leading cause of preventable death for B.C. children between 12 and 18, a new study of youth suicide said Tuesday.

Alberta ombudsman to examine out-of-province health funding program 04.12.2008 03:26 Complaints from people who've been denied funding by Alberta's out-of-province health program prompted Alberta ombudsman Gord Button to launch an investigation Tuesday.

Health care often inaccessible to Inuit: report 03.12.2008 23:39 Inuit have far less contact with doctors than the average Canadian, particularly in the northern communities where few have hospitals, a new Statistics Canada report says.

Self-embedding of objects in body a puzzling teen disorder 03.12.2008 23:39 Some teens are wounding themselves and embedding objects such as paper clips and glass to cope with disturbed thoughts and feelings, say U.S. doctors who are looking for ways to remove the objects safely.

Canada risks being 'dumping ground' for dangerous toys: critics 03.12.2008 23:38 Canada risks becoming a dumping ground for plastic toys that have been banned in the U.S. and Europe because they contain a toxic substance that can be dangerous to babies and young children, critics charge.

Pilot project sheds light, warmth on Vanier's prostitutes 03.12.2008 23:38 An aboriginal community organization is reaching out to Vanier's prostitutes as part of a city-funded project to find out more about the women who sell sex on the streets of the east-end Ottawa neighbourhood.

Generic heart drugs measure up to branded versions: review 03.12.2008 23:38 Brand-name drugs for treating cardiovascular disease don't appear to be clinically superior to generic versions, say U.S. researchers who reviewed studies comparing the drugs.

All news | News archive | RSS feed

News

News category