Syphilis Control (March 8)
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The way the government has handled the growing syphilis rates in Alberta is embarrassing.
Firing three top public health officers and proceeding to do virtually nothing for three years has seen infection rates soar. Syphilis is entirely treatable, and for Alberta to have twice the national average for infection rates shows this government has ignored their own advice and allowed this situation to get out of hand.
To the Minister of Health and Wellness. The former minister of health apparently ignored this issue. Will the minister finally act on the recommendations made in 2007 and have a province-wide campaign?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The spreading of an infectious disease is a great concern to all of us. I thank the member, actually, for raising the issue because we do have a plan in place now, and there is a little bit more of an addition to that plan coming soon that will see, among other things, targeted interventions with certain population areas and certain population groups. That plan will also include establishing a 14-member group that will look further into the prevention aspects of this particular issue, and there are other enhanced clinical screenings being done as well.
Ms Pastoor: A proper health care system should have enough capacity to shift resources when needed and not completely drop everything else. This appears to have been the case under the H1N1. What is the minister doing to make sure that we have very balanced public health?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the chief medical officer for health, who is one of many advisers to me as minister, has the additional parts to that plan. That’ll be coming out very soon, hon. member, and I’ll be sharing that with the public.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Pastoor: Thank you. I wonder if the minister could tell me just on what basis the projection was made by the public health officer. You’ve talked about the plan coming forward. Is there a specific timeline?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, Mr. Speaker, we’re already establishing the new 14-member team as we speak. But there will be more specific actions very soon that we’ll be rolling out that will address exactly that issue. It’s a cause for concern to be sure, and we’re targeting to get back to zero within five years, which is a very realistic projection at this stage.
Alberta Hansard, March 8, 2010