FRANCAIS

April 28, 2006

The Manitoba government is investing more than $1.7 million in public health and health-care resources to manage the Tuberculosis Control Program, Health Minister Tim Sale announced today.

"After decades as a separate program operated by an independent agency, the Tuberculosis Control Program will now be integrated with provincial communicable disease programs," said Sale. "We recognize that tuberculosis is a disease that public-health officials are still working to reduce and the restructured program will help them make better use of resources while addressing tuberculosis cases in Manitoba."

The new program structure will help health-care officials co-ordinate the use of existing health-care resources and will integrate tuberculosis case management with current public-health operations. The funding will be used to:

• increase the number of nursing, clerical and medical staff at the Tuberculosis Control Program;

• increase funding for primary health care, public health and home care in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority;

• hire a tuberculosis community health worker and nurse in the Burntwood Regional Health Authority; and

• cover the costs of salaries, medical remuneration and operating expenses for the Tuberculosis Control Program.

"The Sanatorium Board of Manitoba took great pride in serving the citizens of Manitoba with regards to TB and its control," said Dr. Frank Hechter, board chair. "We look forward to continuing our role in supporting research, education and advocacy for the lung health of all Manitobans in the years ahead."

The Sanatorium Board of Manitoba has worked with Manitoba Health for several months to arrange the transfer of the Tuberculosis Control Program to Manitoba Health, with services to be provided by regional health authorities.  Manitoba Health has been managing the program since April 1. A steering committee is being established to determine the priorities and direction of the Tuberculosis Control Program and implement the changes.

This committee will include representatives from Manitoba Health, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the Burntwood Regional Health Authority, the Lung Association, Manitoba, and the University of Manitoba.

Manitoba Health is also working with the First Nations Inuit Health Branch and Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimakowin (MKIO) to increase education and awareness about tuberculosis for northern First Nation communities.

"The MKIO leadership knows that we cannot deal with this crisis alone but that we have an important role to play in the management and control of TB in our communities. We are optimistic about a partnership with the province and that we will come up with appropriate tools and resources for all our First Nation populations," said Grand Chief Sydney Garrioch of MKIO. "We want to ensure consistency in our messages to our people, timeliness in responding to outbreaks, but also ensure that the stigma of TB does not hamper treatment and prevention efforts - TB can be beaten."

"Since the Sanatorium Board of Manitoba was first created in 1904, the spread of tuberculosis has been reduced and I want to thank the board for its decades of hard work to control this terrible disease," said Sale. "But we also know there is still more work to be done. Manitoba Health will continue to work with our regional, provincial and federal partners as well as with communities and individuals to make sure that all Manitobans can live without tuberculosis."

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