Public Health

• Obtaining water samples and ensuring safe water supplies to public building and private homes
• Consulting with Regional Environmental Health Officer to ensure safe housing conditions in the community
• Inspects public events to ensure safe food handling and storage
• Participating in community clean-up campaigns
• Liaising with other programs on environmental issues

HOW DOES HIV and AIDS AFFECT ABORIGINAL PEOPLE ACROSS CANADA?There are disproportionate rates of HIV and AIDS among Aboriginal people.

• Aboriginal people experienced HIV at rates about 3.6 times higher than other Canadians in 2008.

• Even though the Aboriginal population only represented 3.8% of the general Canadian population, Aboriginal people represented about 8% of all people living with HIV and AIDS, and about 12.5% of new HIV and AIDS cases diagnosed in Canada in 2008. (Public Health Agency of Canada – Population-Specific HIV/AIDS Status Report, 2012 [PHAC])

Injection drug use is the main category of HIV exposure for Aboriginal people.

• In 2005, 53% of HIV cases among Aboriginal people were caused by injection drug use; 33% by heterosexual sex; 10% by men who have sex with men; and 3% by men who have sex with men/injection drug use. (PHAC)

Aboriginal people are diagnosed at a younger age than other Canadians.

• Between 1979 and 2008, 19.3% or reported AIDS cases among Aboriginal people were between 15 and 29 years old, compared with 14.8% of reported AIDS cases among non-Aboriginal people in the same group. (PHAC, HIV/AIDS Epi Update, July 2010).

• HIV affects Aboriginal women at higher rates than non-Aboriginal women.

• Between 1998 and 2008 Aboriginal women represented 48.8% of all the HIV test reports within the Aboriginal HIV and AIDS statistics as compared with 20.6% of reports among those of other ethnicities. (Public Health Agency of Canada’s HIV/AIDS Epidemiological Surveillance Report – July 2012)

Aboriginal people are significantly overrepresented in the Canadian prison system where there is a higher risk of contracting HIV

• In 2006, 1.64% of people in federal prisons were reported to be HIV positive.

• Aboriginal people make up 20% of the federal prison population.

• Of Canadian female prisoners, Aboriginal women make up 32% of female prisoners.

• Aboriginal men make up 20% of Canadian male prisoners. (PHAC)

The Aboriginal population is more vulnerable to contracting HIV and AIDS because of a variety of factors and social determinants of health

• Poverty, housing and homelessness, early childhood development, physical environments, access to health services, support networks and social environments, gender, violence, and for this population in particular, racism and the multigenerational effects of colonialism and the residential school system. (PHAC)

For more information follow the link:

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/epi/2010/pdf/EN_Chapter8_Web.pdf

Saddle Lake Pre/Post Natal Program – CPNP Program

Mom Care on Thursday afternoons only (for expecting mothers).

The overall goal of CPNP (improved nutritional health of mothers and infants) can be achieved through these elements. Nutritional screening, counselling, education, maternal nourishment, breastfeeding education, promotion and support.

Well Baby Clinics and BCG Clinics

Well Baby Clinics are held each Tuesday (afternoon) and Wednesday  (all day) and are open to all band members for immunizations and  well child assessments.  Incentives are given to the clients for keeping  their children’s immunizations up to date (such as baby blankets, toys, etc.

BCG Clinics are held on the first and third Thursday of each month.

Please call the Public Health office to confirm dates and book
appointments.

MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM:

• Prenatal Classes: Held 4 times per year
• One to one prenatal classes: Ongoing
• Open prenatal clinic: Ongoing
• Postpartum depression screening: Ongoing
• Baby food making: 3 Classes Per Year
• Registered Dietician Counselling: Ongoing
• Transportation to and form scheduled events: Ongoing
• Milk and Cheese Supplement: Ongoing
• Continuation of milk and cheese supplement for exclusive breastfeeding: Ongoing
• Caring, Sharing and Cooking with new moms: 3 Classes per year
• Postpartum follow up visits: Ongoing
• Lactation Consultant: Ongoing
• Breastfeeding Support Group: Ongoing
• Initial postpartum visit: Ongoing
• Mom Care Program: Weekly, Ongoing
• Overall support to new and expecting moms: Ongoing

The CPNP program provides a healthy and supportive atmosphere to the moms of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation.

Follow up on school entry screening results and refer as necissary

Provide immunization boosters and new vaccines, such as Hepatitis B and Humanpapillomavirus

Advise on communicable disease problems ie/Case Identification, Contact Tracing, Treatment Information, Education and Follow Up

Consult and liaise with teachers and parents

Follow up on referrals from teachers

Provide assistance with resource information on Health Education to teachers and students