Aboriginal Health: Weaving Change
July 3rd, 2009
CBC recently reported on how First Nations Health is faring in the province. BC Medical Office Dr. Perry Kendall released the Pathways to Health and Healing Report on June 26. While some health indicators are improving in Aboriginal populations, HIV is a growing concern. Aboriginal people make up 5% of BC’s population, yet they account for 15-17% of new HIV tests per year (page 193 of the report). Aboriginal women in particular have been hit hard with HIV infection, making up 37.5% of positive women living with HIV in BC. And Canadian statistics reveal that among Aboriginal people across the country, women represent 48.1% of positive tests (approaching the 50% infection rates in some African countries). Some of the HIV health indicators in the report that have worsened may also contribute to HIV risk as well.
Health is made up of many threads, or indicators, woven together, influencing each other. Food security (not only money to buy food, but access to good food), safe and secure housing, the travel required to get care, culturally sensitive and competent care and many more threads are part of the picture. Weak threads mean health suffers.
Kendall’s report says that the number of children in care is increasing (page 39), and homelessness is on the rise for Aboriginal people (page 41). Both of these factors are significant. Losing custody of one’s children can prompt feelings of failure, depression and despair, which could lead to self-destructive behaviours and even worse health outcomes.
Homelessness can also play a big part in health, as research out of Ontario has shown. Looking at the relationship of HIV, housing, and health, it found that housing was extremely important in maintaining and improving health. If housing opportunities are decreasing, the health effects are sure to follow. (In our new strategic plan, we have made housing a direction of its own, knowing it’s integral to improving women’s lives).
These kinds of reports can be disheartening, but they should also be seen as challenges for change, the pathways of the title. Many individuals are working at these issues around the province, weaving them together to offer safe and healthy spaces to connect, share, learn. We offer retreats for Aboriginal women, support, and outreach. Chee Mamuk provides education to people on reserves all over the province. Healing Our Spirit also offers education, and support to Aboriginal PHAs, Vancouver Native Health Clinic provides great medical care, and groups like Positive Living North in Prince George work outside the urban centre of the Lower Mainland.
Kendall’s report recognizes that achieving health is an effort that’s made up of many things- literacy, education, support, access to care, recovery from historical trauma, social change. I’d like to believe that all these things are doable, with so many working together.
- Janet
This blog represents the ideas of individual writers, and does not necessarily reflect any formal stance taken by Positive Women's Network.
This was posted on Friday, July 3rd, 2009 at 10:00 am and is filed under HIV Prevention, Networking, News . Feel free to respond, or trackback.
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