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CBC
44 minutes ago
- CBC
Nunavik tuberculosis action plan to be finalized in coming weeks, says health ministry
Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) says it's working to finalize a tuberculosis action plan in Nunavik in the coming weeks, while doctors in the region continue to exhaust all efforts to curb infections. Most notably, the plan from the Nunavik health board includes hiring a third-party organization to co-ordinate the logistics of responding to the outbreak — including bringing in extra health-care professionals. Dr. Yassen Tcholakov, the board's interim public health director, says a call for tender for that external agency has been issued. He also insists these aren't just temporary workers they're looking to recruit, and it's not the same as using private agency nurses down south. "A lot of the requirements is for this organization to come with staff that are going to be culturally-trained, that's going to have specific competencies related to Nunavik and have continuity over a long period of time," he said. "So it's not going to be the same thing as someone coming in to fill in a gap for two weeks and getting paid a lot more, having a lot better working conditions." MSSS says it's also created a working group to provide expertise and support the fight against tuberculosis in Nunavik. Tcholakov says the health board is still working to bring in more resources, regardless of the time it will take for the province to finalize their action plan. That includes discussions with the province's medical bodies to reduce barriers for training people locally to do tuberculosis prevention work. "If those negotiations come to fruition, we'll be able to not only offer the care more rapidly, but it's also going to be … be delivered by people within the community that understand, that can explain things in patients' own language," he said. Random cases As of this week, there are 79 cases in the region this year. If the trend continues, Tcholakov worries that 2025 could see a new record of confirmed cases, surpassing the 94 that were reported in 2024. Dr. Sarah Bergeron, a physician with the Inuulitsivik Health Centre, is worried about the number of cases being detected outside of regular testing. "So people that were coming into the health system to get checkups for other reasons … and they need to have a picture of their lungs. Because of that, we were finding tuberculosis out-of-the-blue for those patients that didn't necessarily have symptoms. So that's a sign the crisis is really more out of control," she said. Testing capacity concerns her, especially with many smaller villages lacking basic diagnostic equipment like X-ray machines, resulting in patients having to be sent out of their community for testing and care. Bergeron says they've developed a program where you can use just a single radiographic image, rather than images from multiple views, to detect tuberculosis. However, she says that can cause logistical issues, like housing for technicians to be sent into the community. Increasing clinic spaces for isolated patients is part of the health board's action plan. In 2018, the federal government committed to eliminating tuberculosis across Inuit Nunangat by 2030, and halving rates by 2025. Earlier this year, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami — a national organization for advancing Inuit rights — said reaching this year's target is now unlikely. Tcholakov looks to tuberculosis prevention efforts in other parts of Inuit Nunangat for inspiration. In the past, Nunavut has made screening and treatment available community-wide for a period of time in places facing outbreaks. Last month, the territorial government declared an end to years-long outbreaks in two communities. "We now have a decade of work to do where we have to go back, offer more screening to the population in order to lower the disease burden to a level where transmission slows down very, very much," Tcholakov said. 'It's treatable' Beyond capacity issues, there are challenges on the ground. Bergeron says it can be difficult to reach people because of phone and internet connectivity, so nurses often have to go door-to-door. "I think part of the answer is to really increase the in-community services so that people don't need to leave their family or leave their job for many days to get tested," she said. But there's also the fear factor, from historical traumas of patients being sent down south for tuberculosis care — and she believes more work needs to be done to connect with people. "We need to reopen that dialogue between the population and the healthcare system and maybe the mayors can also help us with that … because once we have the people in front of us, we can have that dialogue with that individual. But if it's hard to reach somebody in the community [then] we are not able to open that dialogue," she said. Kangiqsujuaq Mayor Qiallak Nappaaluk says her mother was sent down south to a tuberculosis sanatorium in the 1950s. She followed as a six-month-old, and ended up testing positive for latent tuberculosis, but she says that's no longer the reality anymore. Tuberculosis is a curable disease that most often affects the lungs — but it can kill if left untreated. "It's treatable. It's really different than before, and before our grandparents," Nappaaluk said. But to help people come forward, she says tuberculosis care needs to be more accessible, and she says the provincial government needs to help.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Cross-Canada bike ride raising Parkinson's awareness, research funds
The Spinning Wheels Tour west team is seen in a photo from Aug. 9, 2025. (Facebook/ A number of Canadian cyclists are riding across 10 provinces and to three coasts to raise awareness and research funds for Parkinson's disease. The Spinning Wheels Tour is a two-month, cross-country bike ride that'll see riders travel through the Prairies and up to Churchill, Man. A dozen cyclists set out from Calgary on Wednesday, almost two weeks after leaving Victoria. They were led by Torontonian Lloyd Taylor. 'It's amazing and something I didn't really expect,' Taylor told CTV News. 'Our first day, a couple stopped us to ask us a question. Turned out, the guy's father had Parkinson's, and he opened up the floodgates.' 'That's what this ride is about: the people we meet each day.' Two groups are simultaneously participating in Spinning Wheels: one that left the east coast and the other — Taylor's — that departed from the west. An estimated 300 riders will participate at some point on the route, though he points out 'some days it's just two of us pedalling down a lonely road.' Parkinson's — a currently incurable disease — impacts about 110,000 Canadians. Though Canada has the highest per capita diagnosis rate in the world, Taylor worries it still doesn't get enough attention. 'We just want people to know why they should care,' he said. 'The disease makes you retreat, curl up in a ball and stay on the couch. Yet the opposite is what's needed.' The ride hopes to raise about $200,000 of funds for research and community programming. It'll be passed out to national, provincial and local Parkinson's programs in the places the riders visit. 'It really is nation-wide in terms of the difference it's making,' Parkinson Canada's Scott McMillan said. '(The money raised) goes into research into cause and cure, as well as ways to alleviate symptoms or stop the progression of Parkinson's.' McMillan applauded the cyclists for heading into lesser-populated areas of the country. He said he believes the outreach is vital 'so no one feels like they're going through it alone.' Riding benefits There are benefits to the cycling tour beyond awareness and fundraising. Those riding with the disease — like Taylor and fellow Toronto resident Li Jiang — point out being on the bike is a massive physical boost. 'I've been living with it for 14 years, and I need to share with people that being active is so important to manage your symptoms well,' Jiang said. 'I started biking four years ago with these guys, and I really started from not balancing on the bike — falling on my first ride with them — to now I can ride 100 kilometers every day.' 'I first got on the bike and the symptoms all disappeared,' Taylor added. 'I phoned my wife at the end and said, 'you can't believe it, I rode all day and the symptoms are gone.' She said, 'then you better keep riding.'' To learn more about Spinning Wheels and the work being done by Parkinson Canada, visit the tour's website.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Power banks recalled over fire risks: Health Canada
Health Canada has announced a recall on thousands of power banks over a potential fire hazard. Affected models include ESR HaloLock wireless power banks under model numbers 2G520, 2G505B and 2G512B. According to a recall notice published Thursday, the lithium-ion batteries within the products can overheat, presenting the risk of a fire. 'Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and contact Waymeet Limited for a full refund,' the notice reads. 'Dispose of it by contacting your municipality for instructions on how to safely transport and dispose of lithium-ion batteries.' According to the manufacturer, 9,743 of the affected products were sold nationwide between September 2023 and July of this year, with an additional 24,242 sold in the United States. The power banks were sold online through Amazon and The Home Depot's website. As of the end of July, there have been no reported injuries associated with the products, but fires resulting in property damage have been reported five times in Canada and nine times in the United States. Health Canada reminds consumers that selling, distributing or giving away recalled products is prohibited by law. Those seeking refunds or more information on the power banks can reach the manufacturer at 1-888-990-0280, or via email at support@ Power Bank recall 1 (Health Canada) Power Bank Recall 2 (Health Canada)
