Media.Knet.Ca

AFN press release ...

AFN Health Access website site launched to mark National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day (Friday May 4)

     OTTAWA, May 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine will mark the 9th Annual National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day with the launch of a new web site that will allow people to register concerns or comments regarding Non-insured Health Benefits or health services in general.

     "Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions across North America, but it is a much more disabling and deadly disease for First Nations peoples as a result of poor diets and lack of access to medical services," said National Chief Fontaine

     "The great tragedy of diabetes is that it can be easily prevented or regulated through proper diet and exercise. But when you live in poverty, making healthy choices is not an option when there is no access to affordable foods and safe drinking water," commented the National Chief. "According to our own Regional Health Survey, 42 per cent of our youth and 60 per cent of our children are either overweight or obese. This is an appalling statistic.

     "We must eliminate the cycle of poverty and despair in order to empower our people to lead healthy lifestyles. This is one of the messages we will be taking to Canadians on the June 29th National Day of Action."

     In the meantime, First Nations citizens who are having difficulty getting health services, or who want to tell their stories, can visit the new Health Access site at www.afnhealthaccess.ca

     In 1999, AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine proclaimed the first Friday in May as National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day.

     The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

May 3, 2007

Backgrounder on Diabetes in First Nation Communities
              ----------------------------------------------------

     State of Diabetes among First Nations Peoples(1)

• The diabetes epidemic among First Nations is growing: 19.7% of First Nations adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. One in 8 First Nations women report having gestational diabetes.
   
• Diabetes is 3 to 5 times more common among First Nations than the general population. This gap has been increasing, alarmingly so among middle-aged men and older women.
   
• The rate of diabetes increases with age (one in 3 among those 55 years and older), among those living in isolated communities, among those who did not graduate from high school, and among those speaking or understanding a First Nation language.
   
• Many First Nations children and youth are at high risk of developing diabetes. First Nations youth are less likely than adults to eat a nutritious and balanced diet or traditional protein-based meats. 42% of First Nations youth are either overweight or obese. The rate is even higher among First Nations children: half of First Nations children are either overweight (22.3%) or obese (36.2%).
   
• A direct correlation has been found between First Nations childhood obesity and lower family income, overcrowding, poor nutrition, lower levels of physical activity and educational achievement.
   
• Diabetes poses a high burden to individual health and health care systems. All First Nations diabetics report adverse health consequences and over one-quarter have activity limitations. The rates of heart disease is roughly four times higher, and other co-existing conditions (vision, hands and feet, kidney) are higher among diabetics than among other First Nations adults.
   
• First Nations people have been drastically impacted by colonization, and its most shameful forms such as Residential Schools. The health and well-being of First Nations peoples has suffered. Forced relocation from our lands has severely limited access to traditional foods, and hunting, fishing and gathering of these foods.
   
• High rates of poverty and residential school experiences have resulted in depression, addictions and other mental health issues which influence nutrition and physical activity practices in First Nations communities.

     Access to Diabetes Programming and Services(2)

• Only 40% of First Nations diabetics attend a diabetes clinic or receive diabetes education, and only half monitor their blood glucose every day. More than one in ten First Nations diabetics had difficulty accessing diabetes education. 30% receive home care from family.
   
• First Nations diabetics are more likely to find that lack of Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) and denial of approval for services under NIHB limit access to health care. In particular, First Nations diabetics are more likely to report difficulties in accessing medication, other medical supplies and hearing aids.
   
• Close to 13% of First Nations diabetics access traditional medicines.
   
• Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) renewed the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative in 2005 and tripled its funding: $190 million over 5 years. However, on October 19, 2006, federal Minister of Health, Tony Clement, announced a review of the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative and the Canadian Diabetes Strategy to determine what lessons have been learned and what should be done next. This review was announced without any prior consultation with First Nations.
   
• The RHS Technical Report has concluded: "Given the pervasiveness of the disease, a population-wide strategy is required. With one third of adults 50 and older currently diabetic and with the prevalence likely to continue to increase in the next five years, almost all adults will be touched by the disease, either directly or through family, friends and neighbours. Each aspect of a comprehensive strategy (prevention, detection, treatment and control, research and surveillance) requires urgent attention." (73)

     AFN Response

• The AFN has launched a national campaign to Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity. One in four First Nations children live in poverty in contrast to one in six Canadian children. "First Nations poverty is the single greatest social justice issue in Canada," states National Chief Phil Fontaine. "Compared to Canadians, socioeconomic conditions have been compared to developing countries with health status well below the national average. First Nations people simply cannot afford the means to good health."
   
• In 2005, federal, provincial, territorial and First Nations governments indicated support for a First Nations Wholistic Health Strategy at the First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal issues. This strategy addresses the determinants of health that are most relevant to First Nations and which emphasizes the significance of self-government in looking at potential new investments and partnerships in promoting positive health outcomes. Federal commitment to this strategy has not been honored by the current federal government.

     National and International Response

• On November 8, 2006, the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada and 500 experts gathered for its Building It Together Conference launched The Call for Action: "One in six Canadian children lives in poverty, and First Nations and Inuit suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes at a rate much higher than the general population," said CDPAC Conference Chair Dr. Catherine Donovan. "This is what we mean by helping the worst, first. The evidence is clear that poverty and chronic disease are related. It is time to radically reduce family and child poverty in Canada!" (3)
   
• A United Nations Resolution on Diabetes is being proposed under the Eradication of Poverty objective. Submitted by Bangladesh, the unite for diabetes campaign to gain worldwide support for the Resolution recognizes that: "Indigenous populations worldwide are at risk of being wiped out because of their genetic risk for type 2 diabetes. This combined with increased urbanization, higher cases of obesity, sedentary lifestyles and stress is resulting in very high rates of diabetes among indigenous communities. (...) For many it is a race against time to turn the epidemic around."(4) The United States Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee announced its support of the Resolution on November 10, 2006. However, Canada is not to date endorsing the Resolution.

________________________________________________________

1. First Nations Centre. First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS) 2002/03: Results for Adults, Youth and Children Living in First Nations Communities. Ottawa: November 2005. 69-75. Available: http://www.naho.ca/firstnations/english/regional_health.php.
2. Ibid.
3. http://www.cdpac.ca/content/pdf/Newsroom/FINAL%20NEWS%20RELEASE%20NOV%208%20ENGLISH.pdf
4. http://www.unitefordiabetes.org/campaign/resolution/

-30-

/For further information: Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789 ext. 229, cell: (613) 293-6106, bhendry@afn.ca; Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor - Office of the National Chief, (613) 241-6789 ext 243, (613) 298-6382, npine@afn.ca/