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Sask. response to H1N1 a team effort: McKinnon
By Pamela Cowan, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-PostDecember 28, 2009 8:01 AM
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> showTab("text/html"); </SCRIPT>An aboriginal map hangs opposite Dr. Moira McKin non's desk -- a reminder of the native land of Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer.
"It reminds me of home; it reminds me of the importance of country and communication," McKinnon said of the painting from the desert in the north part of Western Australia. "It just grounds me."
Preparing for the global influenza pandemic, McKinnon had to be grounded as she mapped out the province's H1N1 strategy -- a plan that became the envy of many other Canadian jurisdictions.
Some clinics, such as those in Alberta, opened their doors to the general public when the H1N1 vaccine was available, but the vaccine supply either ran out or people waited in line for hours to roll up their sleeves.
"There's a feeling so strong in Canada of equity, but in that case, equity went by-the-by because it was the strongest and the fittest who got the vaccine, really," McKinnon said. "Equity is sometimes making decisions about prioritization -- so you can get those who are most vulnerable vaccinated first."
From the beginning, Saskatchewan kept to the nationally agreed-to sequencing protocol, which identified priority groups -- the first being health-care workers, followed by high-risk individuals with underlying medical conditions.
McKinnon pointed out the province's pandemic response was a team effort involving many medical and non-medical staff who organized and delivered more than 500,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine.
"There was something like 20 or 30 people involved day-to-day on the H1N1 -- it was quite an event, really," McKinnon said. "It went across ministries as well. There was a lot of inter-ministerial departmental meetings with Corrections and Justice and Education. It was really a cross-disciplinary response to the pandemic. I was just the one that was in front of the cameras."
Her calm demeanor at numerous news conferences was accompanied by her soft-spoken, but clear, updates about the virus activity in the province. Her wealth of public health experience was evident.
Not only has McKinnon worked in western Australia, but also in the United Kingdom, Russia and China.
As the key advisor for communicable diseases and emergencies for Australia's federal government, she dealt with many crises including the 2002 Bali bombings, anthrax, avian influenza and the 2004 Asian tsunami.
Those experiences taught her that before a public health decision can be made, it's important to gather all of the evidence and information.
"It's never enough -- but you have to make a decision," she said. "It's very important to keep calm and assess all of that information and make the best decision on the information that you've got."
The voice of the community helped health officials decide who should be immunized first.
"In Saskatchewan, it came back to us in many forms -- through HealthLine, through direct e-mails and phone calls," McKinnon said.
"Saskatchewan wanted the children immunized, and that came from the seniors as well. It's important to respect and understand that community voice on top of all the information. It's a big part of the decision-making."
While the H1N1 virus was milder than expected, it could have had a huge effect, she said.
"It was a very valuable event to go through because we're going to have another one like it," McKinnon said. "There's no doubt."
Infectious disease threats are inevitable because of increasing world travel and the close interaction between the planet's nine billion people and two billion animals.
Most of the viruses from which humans get clinical diseases come from animals. "That interface continues with pets at home and farming, and the increasing need for animals for food," McKinnon said.
While the pandemic grabbed headlines around the world, work continued on the province's HIV strategy.
"We have the highest incidence rate of HIV -- in fact, it's twice the national average -- and the biggest increase is in young aboriginal women, so that's the next thing that we need to look at now," McKinnon said.
"The things that are driving this HIV epidemic in Saskatchewan are the same things that will make it occur anywhere else in Canada, so we need to get a national approach; the strategy won't work unless all the parties are part of it, including the community."
She believes the lessons of collaboration learned during the H1N1 outbreak can be used to address the HIV crisis.
"The other thing I learned from H1N1 is the public want to listen and be part of the decision making," she said. "They do care."
Looking ahead to the new year, McKinnon rates environmental concerns high on the agenda as more industry is poised to come to Saskatchewan.
Also on her radar are the growing problems of diabetes, obesity and Saskatchewan's high injury rate.
She's pleased with the smoking legislation that was proclaimed while H1N1 was prominent. The next challenge, she said, is ensuring it's enforced.
Despite 2009's many challenges, the year is ending on a high note for McKinnon.
"Saskatchewan has got such a history with the introduction of medicare, which Australia now has. So many good things have come out of Saskatchewan and I'm very impressed by the people here and the spirit of collaboration -- it's a pleasure to work here and a pleasure to be here," she said. "I think Saskatchewan can lead in health and has led in health.
I'm pleased to be part of the team."
http://www.canada.com/health/Sask+response+H1N1+team+effort+McKinnon/2385170/story.html
By Pamela Cowan, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-PostDecember 28, 2009 8:01 AM
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> showTab("text/html"); </SCRIPT>An aboriginal map hangs opposite Dr. Moira McKin non's desk -- a reminder of the native land of Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer.
"It reminds me of home; it reminds me of the importance of country and communication," McKinnon said of the painting from the desert in the north part of Western Australia. "It just grounds me."
Preparing for the global influenza pandemic, McKinnon had to be grounded as she mapped out the province's H1N1 strategy -- a plan that became the envy of many other Canadian jurisdictions.
Some clinics, such as those in Alberta, opened their doors to the general public when the H1N1 vaccine was available, but the vaccine supply either ran out or people waited in line for hours to roll up their sleeves.
"There's a feeling so strong in Canada of equity, but in that case, equity went by-the-by because it was the strongest and the fittest who got the vaccine, really," McKinnon said. "Equity is sometimes making decisions about prioritization -- so you can get those who are most vulnerable vaccinated first."
From the beginning, Saskatchewan kept to the nationally agreed-to sequencing protocol, which identified priority groups -- the first being health-care workers, followed by high-risk individuals with underlying medical conditions.
McKinnon pointed out the province's pandemic response was a team effort involving many medical and non-medical staff who organized and delivered more than 500,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine.
"There was something like 20 or 30 people involved day-to-day on the H1N1 -- it was quite an event, really," McKinnon said. "It went across ministries as well. There was a lot of inter-ministerial departmental meetings with Corrections and Justice and Education. It was really a cross-disciplinary response to the pandemic. I was just the one that was in front of the cameras."
Her calm demeanor at numerous news conferences was accompanied by her soft-spoken, but clear, updates about the virus activity in the province. Her wealth of public health experience was evident.
Not only has McKinnon worked in western Australia, but also in the United Kingdom, Russia and China.
As the key advisor for communicable diseases and emergencies for Australia's federal government, she dealt with many crises including the 2002 Bali bombings, anthrax, avian influenza and the 2004 Asian tsunami.
Those experiences taught her that before a public health decision can be made, it's important to gather all of the evidence and information.
"It's never enough -- but you have to make a decision," she said. "It's very important to keep calm and assess all of that information and make the best decision on the information that you've got."
The voice of the community helped health officials decide who should be immunized first.
"In Saskatchewan, it came back to us in many forms -- through HealthLine, through direct e-mails and phone calls," McKinnon said.
"Saskatchewan wanted the children immunized, and that came from the seniors as well. It's important to respect and understand that community voice on top of all the information. It's a big part of the decision-making."
While the H1N1 virus was milder than expected, it could have had a huge effect, she said.
"It was a very valuable event to go through because we're going to have another one like it," McKinnon said. "There's no doubt."
Infectious disease threats are inevitable because of increasing world travel and the close interaction between the planet's nine billion people and two billion animals.
Most of the viruses from which humans get clinical diseases come from animals. "That interface continues with pets at home and farming, and the increasing need for animals for food," McKinnon said.
While the pandemic grabbed headlines around the world, work continued on the province's HIV strategy.
"We have the highest incidence rate of HIV -- in fact, it's twice the national average -- and the biggest increase is in young aboriginal women, so that's the next thing that we need to look at now," McKinnon said.
"The things that are driving this HIV epidemic in Saskatchewan are the same things that will make it occur anywhere else in Canada, so we need to get a national approach; the strategy won't work unless all the parties are part of it, including the community."
She believes the lessons of collaboration learned during the H1N1 outbreak can be used to address the HIV crisis.
"The other thing I learned from H1N1 is the public want to listen and be part of the decision making," she said. "They do care."
Looking ahead to the new year, McKinnon rates environmental concerns high on the agenda as more industry is poised to come to Saskatchewan.
Also on her radar are the growing problems of diabetes, obesity and Saskatchewan's high injury rate.
She's pleased with the smoking legislation that was proclaimed while H1N1 was prominent. The next challenge, she said, is ensuring it's enforced.
Despite 2009's many challenges, the year is ending on a high note for McKinnon.
"Saskatchewan has got such a history with the introduction of medicare, which Australia now has. So many good things have come out of Saskatchewan and I'm very impressed by the people here and the spirit of collaboration -- it's a pleasure to work here and a pleasure to be here," she said. "I think Saskatchewan can lead in health and has led in health.
I'm pleased to be part of the team."
http://www.canada.com/health/Sask+response+H1N1+team+effort+McKinnon/2385170/story.html