I hate to miss writing a column, but I was sick last week. If you call having shingles being sick.
Well, one day in 2010 I got this rash and blisters on my waist. It looked like I had burned myself. So, I went to the nursing station and the nurses didn’t seem to recognize it. They called the doctor. 
He took one look at it and said, “That’s shingles.” I had never heard of shingles. I did some inquiring and apparently if you had chicken pox at one time in your life, you may get shingles later in life; 50 years and on. I did a lot of asking and quite a few people got it. But, not everyone who has had chicken pox will get shingles.
I got it in 2010 and I am one of the unlucky ones who suffer from the after effects. My skin has healed and it is clear, but, the raw nerves are active under the skin in the area where I had the outbreak. The nerves may lay dormant for a little while then come alive and torture me to death. There is nothing to help me out with the pain. I have tried everything and seen many doctors here and in Vancouver. I am almost always in constant pain and the irony of it is, I had never heard of shingles until I got it. Cold compresses are the only thing that works for me. And I have tried everything on the market and by prescription. Maybe I’ll start smoking marijuana! It comes in a pill form – I should try it.
The medical world has finally informed people through media with many advertisements on television, radio and in print ads about the vaccine to prevent you from getting shingles. So if you have had chickenpox at one time – go and get the shot. It is so important to get the vaccine, it is called Zostavax and medical will pay for it. There is another newer vaccine, just out, but, it is not covered by medical. It is called Shingrix. Many senior advocates across Canada are lobbying for the provinces to pay for the cost of the vaccine as part of the medical plans. What is the Northwest Territories doing about it? It would be another added cost to the already stretched NWT budget.
Anyway I thought I had better let you all know about shingles and if you had chickenpox in childhood or at any time, go get your shot against it. Otherwise; the rest of my facilities are fine. I will never stop fighting for the underprivileged grass roots people, especially the elders and the youth. I know they read me. I always try to encourage them.
The Sahtu region is isolated with winter ice roads for two months or so. People rush out to Yellowknife or to Edmonton for grocery buying, etc. The road is only smooth for a while until the big trucks come and tear it up. You can’t win.
If the GNWT managed our money properly and didn’t waste it on the huge bureaucracy and the huge billions and billions spent on the legislature building (which is really a joke) when you look at the needs of the 30 or so little towns scattered in the Delta and the Sahtu and Dehcho regions. Red tape and top heavy departments.
In the Sahtu region, we are lucky to have one doctor for the five communities. We must have fly-by-night doctors because we never see the same doctor. And yet you see advertisements for foreign doctors who are qualified, but, cannot get a job. They drive taxis and deliver pizza. Why can’t the GNWT fight the system on our behalf? I understand it is the Canadian Doctors Association who control the foreign doctors dilemma. Well, we are a territory not a province! We can make our own demands, can’t we?
Alberta has a program for foreign doctors, Alberta’s International Medical graduates. GNWT should approach them and work with them. We need local doctors.
And by the way, why do we need so many judges? You know I save clippings from newspapers which I may refer to later. Well, well, in the Yellowknifer, February 29, 2012 headline “Judges ask for 13.6 per cent pay hike.” How about that – will have to discuss that one later on.
In the days before we had the government, we had a judge who flew throughout the North once a year. His name was Judge John (Jack) Sissons. We were living in Fort Franklin, now Deline, at the time. My godfather was a character and a half. He used to make home brew all the time. Anyway, the judge came to Deline. The RCMP pitched a tent for the court. Joe was the only prisoner and Judge Sissons never smiled! Anyhow in court he said something to Joe. So, Joe answered, “Yes, your Majesty” instead of saying, “Yes, your honor.” Even then, Judge Sissons who never cracked a smile, couldn’t help but grin and smile.
That was how much our people were ignorant of lawyers and judges, etc. So we should look at what is working and not working within the judicial system.