Ottawa promises to eradicate tuberculosis after the death of a teenager

QMI agency

Saturday, 24 march, 2018 09:07

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Saturday, 24 march, 2018 09:10

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OTTAWA – The federal government pledged Friday to eradicate tuberculosis by 2030, less than a week after the death of a teenage inuit of the causes of this disease.

The minister of Aboriginal Services, Jane Philpott, made the announcement alongside the president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, an association for the defence of the rights of the Inuit. She has also promised a reduction of 50 % by 2025.

“The government of Canada will deploy all necessary efforts to fulfill its commitment,” said dr. Philpott, in a statement. This day would have had to happen well before and we are determined to implement a strategy that is both supported and led by the community.”

The government of the autonomous territory inuit of Nunatsiavut, in Labrador, has confirmed on Thursday that the death of a teenage inuit, the end of last week, is due to tuberculosis.

The young man of 14 years of the community of Nain, on the Labrador coast had to be evacuated by medical transport on two occasions, before making his last breath in a hospital in St. John’s, Newfoundland, according to a press release issued by the Nunatsiavut government.

“This is a tragic situation and all our thoughts go out to the family,” stressed the president of the Nunatsiavut, Johannes Lampe.

Although tuberculosis is contagious, Mr Lamp believes that the members of the community were not at “imminent risk” of an outbreak, since the disease is only transmitted by close contact.

According to Aboriginal Services Canada, in 2016, the incidence rate of tb was 300 times higher among the Inuit than among non-aboriginal people.