Unit 3 Linking Key Points of My Curated Resources from Federal, Provincial and Local Viewpoints

13/10/2018

Linking key points of my curated resources from Federal, Provincial and Local Viewpoints

I have chosen to focus on the Indigenous population in British Columbia and Canada.

According to the World Health Organization "the social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries" (WHO, 2018).

The Federal Government of Canada has identified several social and economic factors that influence health. For the Indigenous population of Canada, the inequality of health started early on with a movement by government leaders to bring together and educate Indigenous children in the ways of Canadian society. The initiation of residential schools disrupted families, communities, and the nation. The repercussions of these actions are still being felt today. The social and economic determinants of health most profound in this setting include how the Indigenous People fit into society, their level of education, income and employment (Government of Canada, 2018).

Federal government support for the Indigenous People included an in-depth investigation into health inequalities. The Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting (HIR) Initiative (2017), designed to help identify populations experiencing the most inequity, is "a collaboration among the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and the First Nations Information Governance Centre" (Health Canada, 2018). Key findings of the above initiative included social inequalities in housing, community environments (exposure to various contaminants), increased alcohol consumption, increased suicide rates, a lack of early childhood development education, poor access to healthy food, oral health management, and medical treatment for Aboriginal people (Health Canada, 2018). Federally, the Canadian Council on Social Determinants of Health was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada to work with various leaders on improving health and equality, (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2018).

British Columbia, according to Statistics Canada, 2016 has over 232,000 Aboriginal people living in the province, approximately, 5% of the population (FNHA, 2013). British Columbia has made strides to ensure that the Indigenous People, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit are cared for in a consistent and systematic way, where culture and humility are at the forefront of decision-making. The First Nations Health Authority, which was established in 2013, is the first of its kind in British Columbia (Statistics Canada, 2018). According to Statistics Canada, 2010 over 7,000 Aboriginal people live in Kamloops, BC. As of a 2006 census, many challenges regarding social determinants of health included poorly maintained homes, overcrowded living conditions, high unemployment rates in the male population, and low post-secondary education attendance remain (Statistics Canada, 2010). There is excitement locally and provincially as additional funds of $550 million have been secured for housing, as announced in June 18, 2018, for both on and off-reserve (Global TV, 2018).

References:

First Nations Health Authority. (2013). About the FNHA. Retrieved from https://www.fnha.ca/about/fnha-overview

Global TV. (2018). B.C. first province to have funding available for on-reserve housing. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/4280890/bc-on-reserve-housing-funding/

Government of Canada. (2013). British Columbia tripartite framework agreement on First Nation Health governance. Health Care Services. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/services/first-nations-inuit-health/reports-publications/health-care-services/british-columbia-tripartite-framework-agreement-first-nation-health-governance.html

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2017). Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities data tool.National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. Retrieved from https://nccdh.ca/resources/entry/pan-canadian-health-inequalities-data-tool-2017-edition

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2018). Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequalities. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html

Statistics Canada. (2016). Aboriginal Peoples: fact sheet for British Columbia. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-656-x/89-656-x2016011-eng.htm

Statistics Canada. (2010). 2006 Aboriginal population profile for Kamloops. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-638-x/2010004/article/11083-eng.htm

World Health Organization. (2018). About Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/social_determinants/sdh_definition/en/