Canada’s aboriginal population faces an unnecessary healthcare inequity compared to the non-aboriginal population considering Canadian’s consider their healthcare ‘universal’. Aboriginals obesity rates are 10% higher than non-Aboriginals (26% compared to 16%), with upwards of 27% facing food insecurity (Statistics Canada, 2015). With that in mind, actions need to be taken to address the issues the aboriginal community faces, bridging the inequity gap. The review by Richmond and Cook highlight the policy changes that are needed at the federal to compensate for the systemic racism and lack of political will (2016). By identifying health patterns unique to the indigenous population, like higher fertility and three times higher rates of diabetes, as well social determinants to health like low-income and sub-standard living conditions, policy and funding changes can be implemented (Richmond & Cook, 2016). The full article can be found here.
In more recent news, the death of Joyce Echaquan and the subsequent release of a video highlighting the degrading comments she faced by healthcare staff has further sparked the inequities faced by the aboriginal community. A meeting between Health Minister Patty Hadju, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal, and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett addressed the inherent racism of the healthcare system. Action by both the provincial and federal levels of governments in needed, but cannot move forwards without Indigenous leaders playing a key role (Zimonjic, 2020). The article can be read here.
In 2018, the government of Ontario published an action plan to be undertaken in partnership between the province and Indigenous Communities to bridge the equity gap. This included new initiatives like funding homecare, expanding access to primary care, and indigenous-led mental health and wellbeing services to name a few (Ontario, 2018). The plan can be found here
For additional resources on accessing programs and services tailored to the aboriginal community, the Central-West Health Line lists organizations and their contact information for Indigenous peoples in Central-West Ontario. Alliance for Healthier Communities also lists resources and organizations for Aboriginal persons in Ontario.
Comments