Nunavut Health Department to implement safe sleep program
Minister makes announcement while speaking about reducing risk of sudden infant death syndrome
Nunavut Health Minister John Main said his department is working with prenatal health care workers on a safe sleep program. (File photo)
The Government of Nunavut will implement a safe sleeping program, Health Minister John Main said in the legislative assembly Monday.
His department will launch the program in collaboration with prenatal health-care workers.
Main made the announcement during a statement in the legislature that emphasized lowering the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, known as SIDS.
Sudden infant death syndrome is when an infant under the age of one dies suddenly in their sleep.
To create a safe environment for a baby to sleep, Main emphasized placing a baby on his or her back, on a firm mattress, in a crib, cradle or bassinet that is up to Canadian safety standards.
Main also spoke briefly about the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, a community-based program offered to prenatal and recently postpartum Nunavummiut. The program is for people who are pregnant but also to help the breastfeeding and nutrition of infants up to two-years-old.
Cool story, John…
Any word on what you plan to do about the nursing shortage?
competitive wages is the only way to fix the nursing issue. for that, need to budget money for it.
This is a good idea, but is the health department going to supply cribs or basinets to those who can’t afford them?
Even if they did, most would go unused anyway. People in Nunavut love to sleep with their babies, the government won’t change that.
that’s what jordan’s principle is doing…beds for all who can’t afford them. and the department of health is one of the agencies that can be providing letters of support for people to access the JP funding.