Most Northern Reserves Unprepared For Flu Pandemic

Most Northern Reserves Unprepared For Flu Pandemic

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 16:18

 

 

Saskatchewan Native leaders say reserves in the province are not ready for an influenza pandemic.

 

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations vice-chief Delbert Wapass told an FSIN-sponsored pandemic conference in Saskatoon yesterday that more funding is needed to equip communities for disaster.

 

Delegates to the conference were told that nearly half of the 33 reserves in the Northern Intertribal Health

Authority do not have any pandemic emergency plan.

 

Dr. Kim Barker, a public health advisor to the Assembly of First Nations, blames bureaucratic squabbling over jurisdictional issues and resources.

 

Barker says the lack of clarity puts everyone at risk, as people need to know what to do and who to call in an emergency situation.

 

Federal funding dedicated to pandemic planning on reserves was made available for the first time last year.

 

(with files from the Saskatchewan News Network and Broadcast News)