Nunavik health board proposes hiring private staff to help curb tuberculosis outbreak

The head office of the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services is in Kuujjuaq, Que. (Eilis Quinn/RCI Eye on the Arctic)

By Félix Lebel, RCI, CBC News

Facing an ongoing tuberculosis outbreak, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services in northern Quebec will soon present an action plan to try and curb infections. 

Most notably, the plan, which was shared with Radio-Canada prior to its release, calls for hiring agency health-care professionals to better support communities in the grips of the outbreak.

Since January, 69 cases of the potentially deadly disease have already been reported, with outbreaks declared in six communities.

If the trend continues, doctors have said they fear 2025 could see a new record of confirmed cases, surpassing the 95 that were reported in 2024.

Earlier this year, communities tried to have the situation declared as a public health emergency.

Outside support

The board’s plan aims to increase the capacity for handling patients and also find ways to bolster its response to the tuberculosis outbreaks with more staff.

In the short term, the board wants to increase the number of clinic spaces in communities that can accommodate people with the infection. Communities have said they need more ways to try and isolate patients and prevent the spread of the disease.

The region’s lack of suitable housing — nearly half of residents live in overcrowded homes — has contributed to the outbreaks, and has also limited the ability to respond to them.

The plan proposes hiring additional support staff through private agencies, but recognizes the need to find appropriate housing.

Public health is also working to try and acquire more X-ray machines and corresponding analysis services to diagnose cases more quickly.

According to the board, discussions are ongoing with Quebec’s Ministry of Health to secure funding for the plan.