The chief in Jean Marie River, N.W.T., says her neighborhood is within the midst of a critical outbreak of respiratory sickness.
Melanie Menacho is the Chief of Tthets’éhk’edélî First Nation in Jean Marie River.
She informed CBC stated that they do not know but what sickness goes round, nevertheless it’s unfold to “about half” of households within the neighborhood of round 70 individuals in solely two weeks.
“There’s lots of people that is coughing. It is form of like a respiratory factor. It simply form of assaults your lungs,” she stated.
Menacho herself is recovering from the sickness proper now. She stated that for per week, she was having issue respiratory, and struggled to get away from bed. She continues to be experiencing fatigue and weak point, and a critical cough.
“It is very scary,” she stated.
Menacho stated the band workplace was closed in Jean Marie River on Friday in an effort to restrict the unfold of the sickness. They’re additionally asking residents to restrict visiting one another if potential, and check out ailing family and friends by cellphone as an alternative of in particular person.
She stated the band council will meet remotely on Monday to determine whether or not it is secure to reopen the workplace.
No well being employees in neighborhood
Menacho can also be calling on the Northwest Territories Well being and Social Providers Authority to ship medical doctors into Jean Marie River to diagnose and look after neighborhood members.
There isn’t a well being employee with medical coaching in Jean Marie River, and neighborhood members often drive to Fort Simpson, greater than 120 kilometres away, to see a nurse.
Menacho informed CBC she’s been involved with Nehendah MLA Shane Thompson in regards to the outbreak and the necessity for medical employees to go to.
Thompson confirmed to CBC that he spoke with Menacho in regards to the sickness in the neighborhood, and that he has additionally spoken to a number of different neighborhood members who’ve comparable considerations.
He stated he has been involved with N.W.T. Well being Minister Lesa Semmler, and has been advocating for the Northwest Territories well being authority to ship employees into the neighborhood to diagnose and care for individuals who are ailing.
Thompson stated Semmler informed him the well being authority is working to offer assist, however as of Saturday afternoon, he had heard nothing from the well being authority about whether or not they’ll ship employees.
CBC has reached out to the Northwest Territories Well being and Social Providers Authority, however didn’t get a response earlier than publication.
Source link