Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 35-19(2) asked by the Member for Monfwi on February 24th, 2022, to the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding NWT Health Status Chartbook.
The NWT Health Status Chartbook was created to provide new and returning NWT legislators with a snapshot of the health status of the NWT residents at the beginning of the 19th Legislative Assembly. The Chartbook is intended to inform MLAs for the purpose of strategic planning and priority setting and for that purpose, is produced every four years to align with the strategic planning and priority setting cycle. The next update of the Chartbook is expected to be released in Fall 2023 before the first sitting of the 20th Legislative Assembly.
One of the key goals of the NWT Health and Social Services system is Best Health. Work to advance this goal is about the health of the population and improving equity of health status across the population. This work includes frequent and regular interaction with organizations, such as non-governmental organizations, community and Indigenous Governments and other relevant authorities. Some of the forums where this happens includes the Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between Indigenous governments and the GNWT where areas of shared interest are discussed; community and regional representation through the Regional Wellness Councils and the Leadership Council that provides advice to the Minister on strategic direction for Health and Social Services delivery.
More frequently produced reports that speak to the delivery of health services are the Annual Reports provided by the health and social services authorities that are tabled in the Legislative Assembly and publicly available. The Annual Reports for 2020-2021 will be tabled this Session. Annual reports provide an overview of the previous year's operations and activities in support of our system's goals to improve health outcomes for NWT residents.
The Department and the health and social services authorities continue work towards the mandate commitments to improve health outcomes of NWT residents. Activities to strengthen identified priority areas include the continued implementation of Primary Healthcare Reform initiatives aimed at enhancing culturally safe, relationship-based care, work with Indigenous Government organizations to deliver on the land healing Programs, enhanced community mental health and wellness supports, strategic planning to allow for elders and Seniors to age in place with dignity and work to stabilize health human resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
