Are Inuit On The List?

Earlier this week there were multiple news articles reporting on the rate of infant mortality among Inuit. An extensive study by University of Montreal researcher Dr. Zhong-Cheng Luo showed that rate as almost four times the Canadian national average.

The mortality rate among Inuit infants was reported as 16.5/1000 live births. This is a rate very close to some developing countries.

The reasons for that, and other grim Canadian Inuit statistics are, as I noted here yesterday, well known.

Recently Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrote an editorial opinion saying:

As president of the G8 in 2010, Canada will champion a major initiative to improve the health of women and children in the world's poorest regions. Members of the G8 can make a tangible difference in maternal and child health and Canada will be making this the top priority in June. Far too many lives and unexplored futures have already been lost for want of relatively simple health-care solutions.

The solutions are not intrinsically expensive. The cost of clean water, inoculations and better nutrition, as well as the training of health workers to care for women and deliver babies, is within the reach of any country in the G8. Much the same could be said of child mortality. The solutions are similar in nature – better nutrition, immunization – and equally inexpensive in themselves.

We agree, but question why, if these solutions are not expensive, and are "within the reach of any country in the G8", the situation in Inuit Nunangat remains what it is today?

Canada, as one of the eight most prosperous countries in the world, has a significant responsibility in assisting those in the world's poorest regions. We hope the Inuit region in Canada is included on a similar list to take care of the issues inside our own country.

Technorati Tags: infant mortality Stephen Harper G8 Inuit