Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with an update on pandemic influenza planning and response on first nations reserves.
Nationally, the number of cases of influenza-like illness in first nations communities, as for the rest of Canada, remains low since the peak of the first wave in mid-June to early July.
First nations continue to receive health care and anti-viral drugs based on provincial guidelines. Our forward strategy for first nations preparedness and response includes assisting communities to finalize and test their pandemic plans, to roll out H1N1 vaccines in collaboration with the provinces, and provision and restocking of medical equipment and supplies, including anti-viral medications. And I can confirm that these medications have in fact been pre-positioned in the first nations communities under our responsibility.
Next, contingency planning for key health services. We're focusing on ensuring that first nations individuals who are severely ill get the treatment they need rapidly, with ongoing communications with first nations communities and leadership to ensure that first nations have the best public health advice to implement their plans.
In terms of pandemic preparedness in particular, we continue to focus on that. According to the interaction between the regional offices and the first nations communities, they report to us that 94% of those communities do in fact have plans.
We know we need to focus on the communities that feel they need more support and information, and we are doing that in communication with the communities. Testing of the plans plays an important role. At the present time, approximately 80% of communities have tested their plans, and that figure actually is increasing.
So we continue to support community testing and provide informational support when it's needed.
I think the example of the community of Ahousat, in British Columbia, shows how well a community in fact can respond. They activated their plan in September, and the community has been dealing with the situation there in collaboration with Health Canada staff and with the Vancouver Island Health Authority. There have been no severe cases of H1N1 in the community, and anti-virals were pre-positioned in that region and were utilized.
In relationship to immunization, we continue to ensure that the immunization will cover first nations communities and the vaccine will be administered by qualified health professionals in nursing stations or via special immunization clinics.
All regional offices have mass immunization plans in place, including transportation, storage, and the necessary supplies. To support surge capacity for immunization, Health Canada has identified additional staff in national headquarters that can be deployed as necessary.
We will work with first nations communities in remote and isolated situations to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. We continue to communicate all this to first nations communities, and as you all know, Health Canada, with INAC, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, signed a communications protocol with the Assembly of First Nations. That protocol outlines the roles and responsibilities that each one takes in terms of pandemic planning in clear communications.
I look forward to answering your questions and further briefing this committee as you so wish.
Thank you, Madam Chair.