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Quebec
QUEBEC —
Battle of the superbugs Quebec's health
minister Philippe Couillard is playing down reports
that the virulent, drug-resistant 'superbug' methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is getting out of
control in hospitals throughout the province. At least
5,000 Quebecers were infected with MRSA last year. Minister
Couillard tried to calm frayed nerves, saying that yes,
the bug has to be taken very seriously indeed, but thanks
to the fine work of Quebec's medics the levels of infection
have remained stable since 2003. DB
MONTREAL
— Let's be CHUMs Debate-weary Quebecers
gave a collective sigh of relief as the provincial government
announced it had finally made a decision on where to
build Montreal's new French-language superhospital.
The $1.1 billion Centre Hospitalier de l'UniversitÄ
de Montreal (CHUM) will be constructed downtown at the
existing St Luc Hospital. Quebec Premier Jean Charest
said he was proud to at last begin work on a project
that has been studied to death and bitterly contested
for years. Premier Charest noted the downtown site won
out over a former railyard nearer the university on
grounds of safety, cost and accessibility. DB
New
Brunswick
FREDERICTON —
Can't you hear us, SOS? An Acadian lobby
group called SOS HÖpital says Premier Bernard Lord's
healthcare reforms are proving hazardous to the region's
health. The group is fighting to keep 24-hour emergency
services and 39 beds at Caraquet's HÖpital de l'Enfant
JÄsus up and running; the services were due to
be slashed on April 1. Seventy members of SOS blocked
a local road in protest on a day Health Minister Elvy
Robichaud was scheduled to speak in nearby Shippagan.
BW
Nova
Scotia
HALIFAX —
The (anonymous) gift of flight Seven-year-old
Halifax area resident Alison Watkins will be going to
Toronto for major corrective surgery after all. The
girl, who has craniosynostosis, was in danger of missing
her Sick Kids appointment after the collapse of Jetsgo.
Alison's family couldn't afford another plane ticket,
but after hearing her story an anonymous benefactor
came forward with a gift of return tickets. "I'm just
blown away," said Alison's mother, Lori. "Isn't it amazing?
I mean, only in the Maritimes." BH
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Prince
Edward Island
GEORGETOWN —
Not for the birds In a scene reminiscent of Alfred
Hitchcock classic The Birds, residents living
in the picturesque, and previously peaceful, eastern
PEI town of Georgetown are struggling to deal with a
furious flock of homeless pigeons who flew the coop
after the town demolished an old building where they'd
been roosting. Mayor Mike Gallant says the copious trail
of pigeon droppings is becoming a health concern. The
feces of pest birds like pigeons can transmit numerous
infectious diseases to humans, including some that cause
flu-like respiratory problems. BW
Hot
Spot
Newfoundland
ST JOHN'S —
Slow progression to coverage Twenty-five
drugs for common diseases like arthritis, cancer and
diabetes will be added to Newfoundland's prescription
drug program this year. As a result the program, which
is for low-income individuals, will cost the province
about $114 million, a 10.3% increase over last year.
One high-profile disease was conspicuous by its absence:
Alzheimer's. The local Alzheimer Society is disappointed
that despite all its efforts, drugs such as donepezil,
rivastigmine and galantamine, which slow the progression
of the disease, still won't be covered. DSS
The
Territories
YELLOWKNIFE, NT
— The cheque is in the mail Northwest
Territories Health Minister Michael Miltenberger says
some aboriginal health programs are being put on the
back burner until the feds cough up $700 million they
promised six months ago. The money was earmarked for
various aboriginal health programs, including alcohol,
drug and mental health strategies and the upgrading
of longterm care facilities in communities. Mr Miltenberger
hoped that the cash would arrive by April 1, the beginning
of the fiscal year, but federal Health Minister Ujjal
Dosanjh says the money won't start flowing northward
until June. BW
Contributors:
Hector Andrews, Simon Biggar, Donna Byers, Lance Davies,
Geoff Everett, Brian Hoyle, Thane Jenkins, Julie J.
Mercier, Deana Stokes Sullivan, and Brent Woodford
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