RSV info hard to find in Iqaluit

This is in response to the letter submitted by Dr. Geraldine Osborne, the chief medical officer for the Government of Nunavut (March 7).

About one month ago, my daughter was diagnosed with RSV. As a parent, I try to keep up with all the health information and hadn’t even heard of RSV until I saw an article on the subject, and then shortly after that my daughter contracted it.

After the doctors gave me information about RSV, I then tried to get more information on the disease. This was not an easy job. The Baffin Regional Hospital didn’t have any written information on the subject, so I called Public Health. I was told they had no information on RSV either.

I couldn’t believe it, considering the high number of infants in Iqaluit as well as the rest of Nunavut who have contracted RSV. I had to resort to the Internet for the information I needed.

Not everyone has access to a computer, so where do they get more information on the subject? They go without knowing all they should know.

If Nunavut has pamphlets available to the public, as Dr. Osborne stated, then the GN needs to do a better job to get the pamphlets and other information out there so everyone can have the necessary information at their disposal.

Knowing more about your child’s health conditions and understanding it is so important. I hope the information gets out there soon!

Name withheld for my daughter’s sake
Iqaluit