On Monday I travelled to Ottawa to meet with key decision makers who have the authority to decide to give Inuit babies access to fair medicine. 

I was very excited for the opportunity, and prepared a presentation of my research showing the dire need for over 10 years. I also delivered your support - over 86,000 signatures from across Canada - and so many comments from you expressing your outrage that we have such health inequity in Canada.

But unfortunately we did not get the commitment needed.  And respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season has already started in Nunavut.  I’m afraid that more babies will have to be evacuated in order for this change to happen.

I would like to thank Dr. Tom Wong Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of Public Health, Indigenous Services for arranging the meeting with Indigenous Services, Dr. Jasmine Pawa deputy CMOH, Dr. Mike Patterson, Chief Medical Officer of Health (on the phone), and other senior officials to discuss the state of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Nunavut and Nunavik. While there are areas of disagreement, it was the beginning of discussions.  

We need your help to keep the pressure on. There needs to be a recognition that babies in rural communities in Nunavut  are at high risk for admissions due to RSV, and that the cost of prevention is much less than treatment with medical air evacuations, hospitalization and often prolonged hospital and ICU stay. 

We need to let them know we are watching and this is not going away until they recognize that Inuit babies need to be in the same category as other high risk infants. These babies should be allowed to have equitable access to the same preventative medications as other high risk infants.  This is currently palivizumab, but also future prevention as other high risk infants.  

As the urgency increases, we need to make sure our government knows we are watching.  I sincerely hope that more babies do not have to become dangerously ill for them to make this happen.

Please share this petition with your networks on twitter and facebook to help keep the pressure on.  Thank you so much for your support!  

Thank you, Dr. Anna Banerji

Sample tweet:

I stand with the over 86,000 Canadians demanding #FairMedicine for Inuit babies in Nunavut. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season has begun. How many babies need to become dangerously ill before you pay attention? @Min_IndServ @PattyHajdu @JustinTrudeau change.org/fairmedicine

Sample facebook post: 

I stand with the over 86,000 Canadians demanding #FairMedicine for Inuit babies in Nunavut. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season has begun. How many babies need to become dangerously ill before you pay attention? @MarcMillerVilleMarie @PattyHajdu @JustinPJTrudeau change.org/fairmedicine