The writers pointed out a reason for the unhealthy condition of these people. In Wikwemikong province where over 2,700 people, has no hospital is built while the two regional (Island) hospitals are located in two much smaller, non-Aboriginal communities. As a result, people are still suffering diseases and its rates are increasing despite the policy has been implemented. According to him, Health Transfer is not visible in some part of Canada where aborigines are settling.
As a result, Wikwemikong and maybe other locations of First Nations continue to realize the increasing rates of most diseases, higher rates of diseases than the general Canadian population, and in fact, higher rates of most diseases than the average rates for First Nations. Waldram, J. , Herring, A. , and Young, K. 2006. Aboriginal Health in Canada: Historical, Cultural, and Epidemiological Perspective. Canada: University of Toronto Press Incorporated, 228. The above health condition of aboriginal people is driven by mostly by group perception of medical assistance and their socio-economic situation is secondary.
According to Waldram, Herring and Young, First Nations people have varying practice in terms of hospitalization. Though, both have frequent physician visit averaging about 4. 9 visits, yet the First Nations people in Winnipeg and Brandon, had fewer contacts with the specialists despite their poor health status; while, the FN in northern remote region had higher specialist contact rates. This means that people’s contact with the physicians depends on their attitude towards it. Allec, Robert. ‘Overview of Gaps in Service and Issues Associated with Jurisdictions,’ First Nations Health and Wellness in Manitoba. http://216. 109. 125.
130/search/cache? ei=UTF-8&p=First+Nations+health+policy&fr=my-vert-web-top&u=www. gov. mb. ca/ana/publications/1st_nations_health_final2005. pdf&w=first+nations+nation+health+policy+policies&d=ByhVE7XiQEjx&icp=1&. intl=us In another report made by Robert Allec, the First Nations population in Manitoba has an infant mortality rate ranges from 2. 1 to 2. 9 times higher; there are incidence or diseases is high such as diabetes and respiratory diseases and this will continue to increase in the coming years. The writer mentioned that ‘availability of high-quality health care’ is an important factor in determining health status.
Newbold, Bruce. ‘Problems in Search of Solutions: Health and Canadian Aborigines. ” Journal of Community Health. Vol. 23, Number 1/ February, 1998 . The author explained that the existing results of the implemented policy (First Nations Health Policy) tend to reinforce the determinants of health framework such as lifestyle, environment, human biology, and health services; suggesting that the provision of health services is insufficient to remove health disparities; because medicine alone and services cannot help in providing significant results in the lives of the people.
He further added, “Broader social-welfare provisions must be considered. ” Reading, J. , Kmetic, A. , and Gideon, V. 2007. ‘First Nations Wholistic Policy and Planning Model,’ Discussion Paper for the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health. http://www. afn. ca/cmslib/general/07-05-28_AFN_Paper_to_WHO_Commission_on_Social_Determinants_of_Health. pdf. (8, 18).