Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand it's International Women's Day today and I would like to congratulate the women sitting up there. Thank you.
However, Mr. Speaker, today my Member's statement is with regard to health services in my region. Mr. Speaker, the regional director and his executive staff in the Beaufort-Delta and my constituency assistant conducted a tour of Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok from February 15 to the 21, 2007. I understand the tour went very well and a number of issues were raised by my constituents to the regional director and his staff.
Mr. Speaker, I have raised this issue before in this House and once again it was raised by my constituents to the regional director and his staff regarding the lack thereof of health services provided to the Nunakput communities; in particular, Mr. Speaker, services for dental, doctor and eye clinics.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services, I understand, has contracts for both the dental and eye clinics. Both of these services provided are for about a minimum of four days in each community. The amount of time these clinics spend in the communities is not long enough to see the patients that require dental, doctor and eye care. Mr. Speaker, not only does it involve a number of days in the community, but it involves long hours for the dental, doctor and eye clinic to see patients in such a short time. This is unacceptable because we should deserve the same level of service as large centres.
Mr. Speaker, on the same issue, a visit by the doctor from regional health has the same problem with the amount of time the doctor visits the communities of Nunakput. We need the Department of Health and Social Services to review and revisit the contract for the dental and eye clinic teams and the doctor to stay longer in the communities, so that all residents have a chance to get a thorough check-up of their bodies, eyes and teeth. In order for the people of Nunakput to be healthy, we need to upgrade on the level of services.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause