Diseases and Health Conditions
First Nations people and Inuit face some serious health-related
challenges, such as high rates of chronic and contagious diseases
and shorter life expectancy. For example, 15 per cent of new HIV
and AIDS infections occur in Aboriginal people.
Compared to the general Canadian population,
- Heart disease is 1.5 times higher;
- Type 2 diabetes is 3 to 5 times higher among First Nations
people and rates are increasing among the Inuit; and
- Tuberculosis infection rates are 8 to 10 times higher.
Health Canada is committed to closing the health status gap between
First Nations people and Inuit and non-Aboriginal Canadians by
working together to encourage healthy lifestyles, reduce and prevent
diseases, and provide health care services.
What Information is Available?
In this section, you will find information on Health Canada programs
which help First Nations people and Inuit improve their health
and decrease the rates of diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS.
You will learn what is being done to address West Nile virus in
First Nations communities, as well as have access to fact sheets
and other resources on how to prevent diseases and know their symptoms.
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