People in northern Saskatchewan are closer to getting the support they need when it comes to diabetes.
A partnership between Cameco Corporation and the Canadian Diabetes Association was announced in Prince Albert on Thursday at the Aboriginal Gathering on Diabetes conference.
The $50,000 donated by Cameo will go toward purchasing another vehicle for the Travelling Diabetes Resource Program, which will be dedicated to the northern part of the province.
“When we heard they were coming to the north, we knew it was a natural fit for Cameco,” said Brian Main, manager of community investment for Cameco.
Northern communities are sometimes very isolated and have difficulty with diabetes programs. This is a way of taking programs to them, Main said.
“I also see a role for the travelling diabetes resource program for our mine sites, going in and talking to employees.”
Senator Lillian Dyck attended the announcement.
“Diabetes is a serious health concern in the aboriginal community,” she said. “Aboriginal Canadians are three to five times more likely to develop diabetes than non aboriginal Canadians.”
The Travelling Diabetes Resource Program sounds like a good way to reach people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but live in remote northern communities, Dyck said.
“It’s really important to start this kind of program as soon as possible so we can end up preventing Type 2 diabetes instead of having to treat it,” she said.
“It’s really important as part of that awareness and getting people serious about preventing diabetes and making lifestyle changes,” said Lori Latta, manager of public programs at the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The van delivers education programs in schools, seniors programs and in health fairs in conjunction with health care professionals. With the increasing risk of Type 2 diabetes in a growing population, there needs to be action, Dyck said.
“Because it is such a serious health concern, the government really needs to step up to the plate and provide funding,” she said.
ahill@paherald.sk.ca
