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New report on health and well-beling of Aboriginal people in BC

Posted July 8, 2009 - 2:51pm by Andrea

British Columbia’s provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, released his report on the health and well-being of Aboriginal people in British Columbia on June 25, 2009.

The 2007 annual report, entitled “Pathways to Health and Healing: 2nd Report of Health and Well-being of Aboriginal People in British Columbia,” is an update to the 2001 provincial health officer’s report and provides detailed information on the health and well-being of Aboriginal people compared to other British Columbians. This report discusses the progress that has been made since 2001, and the next steps that may be necessary to further improve the health of Aboriginal people and to close the gap between Aboriginal people and other British Columbians.

One of the most troubling trends, Kendall found, is the increase in the HIV transmission rate in aboriginal communities: While aboriginal people make up only five per cent of B.C.'s population, they comprise up to 17 per cent of all new positive HIV tests annually.

"In spite of living in a province that has some of the best HIV care available, it is noteworthy that aboriginal people with HIV are not being reached by this care," Kendall said.

Dr. Julio Montaner, clinical director for the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, said the province must reach out to aboriginal communities when it comes to the potentially fatal virus.

"The trend is going in the wrong direction and is something we cannot tolerate or accept," Montaner said, especially since the services and treatments to prevent the infection are available and effective.

"[Treatments are] giving people with HIV and AIDS a chance for a near normal life, and this is not being realized among the First Nations community simply because of a lack of access," Montaner said.

The report can be found on the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport website.