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Diabetes Association fears program might be on chopping block

Written by: QMI Agency
Feb. 25, 2010

TORONTO - The Canadian Diabetes Association says it is worried next week's federal budget could spell the end of a program that helps treat the diabetes epidemic in First Nations communities.

A program called Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI), created by the Jean Chretien's Liberal government in 2002 to address the rising cases of diabetes among Aboriginal communities, is set to expire at the end of March.

There has been no indication that the federal government will renew the funds to keep it alive, says the national diabetes group.

Currently, ADI provides screening and primary treatment programs to roughly 600 Aboriginal communities across Canada.

"Without this funding, many of these community programs will simply not have the resources they need to continue operating," said Ellen Malcolmson, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Dina Bruyere, executive director of the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association, said the Stephen Harper government has been eerily quiet when asked about the program's future.

"Just submit our work plan and hopefully things will work out," Bruyere said she was told.

In 2008, approximately 1.6 million Canadians suffered from diabetes. Approximately 220,000 of them were Aboriginal.

According to Canadian Diabetes Association statistics, 20% of the native population lives with diabetes.

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