ITK divvies up $27M to fight tuberculosis
Funds are part of federal government’s goal to eradicate disease in Inuit Nunangat by 2030
ITK announced in late May how it plans to distribute $27 million to fight Tuberculosis among Inuit in Canada. The money will go towards supporting screening clinics such as the one held in Pangnirtung in 2023, seen here. (File photo by Corey Larocque)
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has decided how it will allocate $27 million earmarked for tuberculosis eradication across Inuit Nunangat.
The money, originally announced in February, is meant to help fulfill the federal government’s promise to eradicate tuberculosis by 2030.
Inuit in Canada see disproportionately high rates of tuberculosis. While rates in Canada are some of the lowest in the world, at 6.1 cases per 100,000 people, the rates of the disease among Inuit in Canada is 186.9 cases per 100,000, according to statistics from the federal government from 2024.
Tuberculosis is treatable with medication, but left unchecked, it can be deadly.
Inuit groups across Canada have been lobbying for $131 million in funding and “co-ordinated action” to address the underlying issues that increase tuberculosis spread in the North, ITK said in a May 27 news release about the funding allocation.
This money does “not meet that need but will sustain momentum for strengthening TB programs,” the news release said.
Of the $27 million, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. gets the biggest share, with $11.6 million. Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services will receive $9 million, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation will get $1.8 million and Nunatsiavut Government gets $1.3 million.
“The current funding will be used to keep TB program momentum going,” said Raymond Obed, senior policy adviser with ITK, in an email to Nunatsiaq News. “Inuit are still hopeful TB can be eliminated by 2030 with adequate federal resources.”
The money will go towards diagnostics and treatment, training, awareness, and other supports for Inuit. Obed also emphasized the importance of tackling other social determinants of health. Overcrowded housing across Inuit Nunangat is one of the main contributors of spread, for example.
“Eliminating TB will also require substantial investments in housing, infrastructure, and food security,” Obed said. “Tuberculosis care is resource-intensive and places an immense burden on fragile health systems in Inuit regions.”
Nunavik has seen a sharp increase in TB rates in recent years.
The region serves about 20 per cent of Canada’s Inuit population, but the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services received nearly 35 per cent of the $27 million.
Other Inuit regions are showing a downward trend, said Obed, citing statistics from the Public Health Agency published in 2024.
Since I didn’t vote for nti elections, I sure hope my 100 voucher went to this instead.
How much are they keeping for themselves as an admin fee?
If you add up the four regional allocations it comes to $23.7M, leaving an amount of $3.3M going somewhere.
@ forever amazed
The typical “kick-back” is 15% for each group that touches it. For example 15% of $27,000,000.00 is $4,050,000.00.
But this is not where it stops as the article indicates: NTI will get $11,600,000.00 , NRBHSS will get 9,000,000.00, IRC will get $1,800,000.00 and NG will get $1,300,000.00 making each of their “cream” at $1,740,000.00: $1,350,000.00: $ 270,000.00 and $195,000.00.
This totals the various 15%’s to $3,555,000.00
This (3.555 mill) amount removed from the 27 mill = $23,445,000.00 for TB.
I have no understanding why ITK would have any role whatsoever in distributing Federal health related funding.