1999-2000 Annual Review, August 2000
Injury
- Injury
Prevention and Control web site (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/promotion/injury-bless/index_e.html)
The Community Programs (CP) Directorate has identified injuries
as a significant health hazard facing First Nations and Inuit people.
In fact, injury is one of the greatest causes of morbidity and
mortality among First Nations populations across North America.
In Canada, injuries are the second leading cause of death overall
for First Nations and Inuit people, and the leading cause of death
among those between 0-44 years of age. Injuries represent between
28% and 35% of all deaths among registered Indians and Inuit, compared
to just 8% of deaths in the Canadian population as a whole. The
excess risk of death from injury for First Nations people compared
to all Canadians ranges from two-to-five-fold, depending on the
region.
To begin to address the injury problem, the CP Directorate commissioned
in 1998/99 an environmental scan with the goal of "gaining insight
into the current reality of injuries and injury-related activities
among Canada's First Nations and Inuit population". The project
focused on developing a current "injury snapshot" in order to assess
the amount of work being undertaken in the area from both the regional
and national perspective. While all Regions identified injuries
as a compelling health priority, they also reported that few if
any injury prevention activities were being carried out, even though
some funding is available through the Brighter Futures program.
One of the priorities determined by the environmental scan was
the development of a national injury prevention/safety-promotion
framework. Work was begun in 1999/2000, and it will continue in
2000/2001.
In October, 1999, the Directorate held a focus group consultation
with Aboriginal organizations and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) Regional and national staff,
which set out principles stating that the Injury Prevention process
must be driven by Aboriginal Peoples, and that it be transparent,
coordinated, flexible, responsive to emerging needs and involve
key Aboriginal organizations. As a follow-up, the focus group established
a National Working Group on First Nations and Inuit Injury Prevention.
Working with the Health Technical Data Working Group (HTWG), the
Directorate drafted a Knowledge Map of injury surveillance and
prevention.
In 1999/2000, the Directorate also supported the Second Aboriginal
Injury Prevention Conference, Continuing the Journey to Safe Aboriginal
Communities, held in Alberta.
2000-2001 Main Activities and Anticipated Outcomes:
- In partnership with the National Working Group, develop a Framework for Injury Prevention for First Nations and Inuit.
- Initiate research to produce more detailed data on injury than is presently available for First Nations and Inuit people.
- Initiate work on development of an ongoing injury-surveillance system.
- Consult with Inuit representatives on an environmental scan.
- Support Saskatchewan Injury Prevention training workshop.
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