Do First Nation communities have the equipment they need to manage H1N1 Flu Virus cases?
Efforts have been made to minimize the risk of the H1N1 Flu Virus in on-reserve First Nations by providing educational materials and public messaging regarding risks and risk avoidance, universal hygiene behaviours (such as hand washing and respiratory hygiene) and information on self-care, self-monitoring and self-isolation. In addition, Health Canada has sent personal protective equipment to on-reserve First Nation communities, including remote and isolated communities, and is in the process of obtaining additional supplies to meet the longer-term pandemic related needs of health care workers providing health care services in on-reserve First Nation communities. In collaboration with the provinces, antiviral drugs have been pre-positioned in many locations to ensure rapid access and Health Canada continues to assess the needs of each community to determine whether additional resources are required. Regional offices continue to work closely with their provincial public health counterp
