Toronto-The opposition parties are sounding the alarm and protesting a “lack of leadership” of the Ford government, the absence of vaccination campaigns and allocated funds, vis-à-vis the explosion of measles cases in Ontario, “the worst epidemic of measles for three decades”.
The measles epidemic takes a political turn to Queen’s Park. The Minister of Health Sylvia Jones assures that the government’s strategy is operating, against a rampant and record number since last year, with 1,383 confirmed cases in the province.
At the same period last year, a child died in Ontario, for the first time in 10 years.
At a press conference C Thursday, Dr. Adil Shamji, deputy for Don Valley East and spokesperson for the Liberal Party of Ontario in terms of primary care, emergency and public health care, on the contrary expressed his fears concerning what he describes as the worst measles epidemic for 30 years.
“While other provinces take measures (…) Sylvia Jones believes that she has fulfilled her duty with regard to the fight against measles by writing a letter a year ago to doctors to ask them to vaccinate their young patients. They do not need letters, they need funding, resources and leadership on the part of this government. »»
He advances the fact that 30 % of 7-year-old children are still not vaccinated, against only 6 % ten years ago, “before it (the government) arrives in power and cut hundreds of millions of dollars in public health”.
“I have never heard the Prime Minister say that children must be vaccinated,” he deplored the day before in a press scrum to Queen’s Park.
“Why the other provinces and even the United States have the crisis under control and not Ontario?” “, Had added Bonnie Crombie, head of the Liberal Party.
Need a plan and more funding according to the official opposition
The head of the NPD Marit Stiles requests a concrete plan on the part of the ministry: “Mother’s Day is approaching this weekend, and families are concerned about the risk of accidental exposure for vulnerable children and their loved ones. (…) We need a real leadership and a serious plan to protect the population, including a solid public awareness campaign on the Ror vaccine, efficient and free, as well as a funded and coordinated strategy to support public health offices. »»
The deputy for Nickel-Belt and spokesperson for the official opposition in health, France Gélinas, points to the absence of resources allocated to health professionals. Several chief doctors confirm that they ask the government of funds.
“These are the finances that block. But with 125 new cases per week, and an already deceased child, we don’t expect it to stop there. »»
The French -speaking elected representative says that when she is questioned about measles, the Minister of Health argues that she has increased the 20 %public health budget.
“These 20 % include federal funding for the financing of dental care for seniors and it has absolutely nothing to have with measles,” contradicts Ms. Gélinas, according to which the increase would be only 1 % per year for the next three years.
More details to come …
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