Address by Minister Jane Philpott to the UN High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English

On September 26, 2018 – New York (New York)

As delivered

Excellencies, representatives of indigenous peoples, delegates

It is an honour for me to address you today on the traditional territory of the people of the Lenape.

Tuberculosis occupies the first rank of world infectious diseases life-threatening. However, thanks to new scientific discoveries as well as political will and increased financial resources, we are getting closer more than ever from the time when the tb will be eradicated. By working together and taking decisive action, we can end this pandemic.

Canada is determined to develop a framework of effective accountability with the WHO and other stakeholders. There is a need for more innovative strategies and approaches that take into account equality between the sexes. Canada therefore supported TB REACH and is pleased to confirm that the next call for proposals will focus on the empowerment of women in the fight against tuberculosis.

That said, one cannot speak of leadership in the world without eliminating the inequalities at home. Although Canada is a rich country, it remains that the prevalence of tuberculosis among the Inuit of Inuit Nunangat – the native land of the Inuit – is more than 300 times higher than those measured in the non-aboriginal people born in Canada.

This reality is unacceptable. On the occasion of the world Day of fight against tuberculosis this year, the government of Canada, along with inuit leaders, is committed to working with all partners to eliminate tuberculosis among the Inuit by 2030 and reduce the incidence of active tb by at least 50 % by 2025.

The Inuit are the engine of the joint response of Canada to this initiative. In fact, the control of the resources necessary for the implementation of plans of action to prevent and to treat tuberculosis and to address the socio-economic factors at the origin of this scourge will be Inuit.

It is an honor to be here with Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Aluki Kotierk, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

To quote President Obed, "Because of the long period of colonialism suffered by the Inuit, tuberculosis has had the opportunity to spread to our communities. We work within our own Inuit governance structures to develop regional approaches to address the TB epidemic among Inuit, recognizing that more than just public health interventions are needed. We must also set priorities that promote social equity in our communities.

Tuberculosis is a symptom of the social inequality experienced by Inuit in Canada. We need to reduce overcrowding in our communities, improve access to quality and socially relevant food, reduce poverty, and increase access to health services as part of a comprehensive treatment of HIV. tuberculosis. "

Do not hesitate to make bold commitments and support them with adequate resources.

Thank you / Nakurmiik / Thank you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and / or sentence structure not be perfect.