Northwest Territories health care practitioners are being trained to use new rapid tests for syphilis to curb a worsening outbreak of the sexually transmitted disease.

Syphilis rates in the territory increased 253 percent between Jan. 1, 2019, to April 1, 2022. During that time 222 cases were detected, 47 in the first three months of this year. Yellowknife continues to report the most cases, but the disease is spreading across the NWT, with cases having been reported in nearly every region of the territory.

Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services, issued the following statement on the shortages of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals that have led to service reductions or closures throughout the Northwest Territories:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released its latest Social Indicators COVID-19 Pandemic report. The report examines the potential social impacts of health measures taken to protect against COVID-19.

The Government of the Northwest Territories’ Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green, will be travelling to Copenhagen, Denmark this week for the Tour de Health-International. She will be joining delegations from Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Starting July 1, 2022, the 8-1-1 Call Centre and COVID-19 Dashboard will no longer be available. Following the end of all NWT COVID-19 Public Health Orders on April 1, the demand for these services has substantially decreased.

The Department of Health and Social Services has released the Child and Family Services 2019-2021 Quality Improvement Plan and the Strategic Approach to System Reform report. It provides a summary of status updates and key highlights on work accomplished from 2019 to 2021.

Today, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green, released a long-range human resources plan to address challenges to the recruitment and retention of health and social services staff across the territory.

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services System Human Resources Plan 2021-2024 outlines actions to further the 19th Assembly’s mandate priority to increase the number of resident health-care professionals in the NWT. It also includes strategies to address existing staff shortages throughout the system.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update Members on the work being done to recruit and retain health and social services staff in the Northwest Territories. This work responds to the mandate commitment of the 19th Legislative Assembly to increase the number of resident health care professionals by at least 20 percent.

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Mr. Speaker, June is Senior Citizens Month, a time for us to acknowledge and celebrate the important role Seniors have in our families and communities. Seniors teach us about culture, tradition, and history. Their wisdom is integral to making wise decisions that will impact future generations of Northerners. 

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When I became Minister of Health and Social Services in August 2020, I had the opportunity to add two personal priorities to the Premier’s mandate letter for me. One of the two was to reduce the toll of substance abuse on the residents of the Northwest Territories, by leading a whole of government, interdepartmental approach to developing evidence-based policies and programs and the development of a robust addictions treatment aftercare regime, including a territorial alcohol strategy.