The findings of a survey conducted in each of the five Labrador Inuit communities will help enable the Nunatsiavut Government to make informed decisions in its attempt to address concerns over food insecurity, says Nunatsiavut Minister of Health and Social Development, Greg Flowers.
The survey asked respondents a wide-range of questions about the household’s ability to afford food, as well as experiences with food over a one-month period.
Households were then classified as ‘food secure’, ‘marginally food insecure’, ‘moderately food insecure’ or ‘severely food insecure’.
A total of 537 (of a possible 722) households were surveyed in the region.
Data from all five communities was combined to determine an updated regional prevalence of food insecurity.
A total of 61.1 per cent of households in Nunatsiavut were found to be food insecure -experiencing worry about or difficulty in accessing food on a regular basis.
The prevalence of household food insecurity was also reported for each individual community, as noted
below:
79.4 per cent in Nain
83.1 per cent in Hopedale
35.1 per cent in Makkovik
39.6 per cent in Postville
21.6 per cent in Rigolet.
“The results confirm the seriousness of food insecurity in Nunatsiavut communities,” notes Minister Flowers.
In response to these results a regional food security coordinator has been hired to work collaboratively with Nunatsiavut Government departments and Labrador Inuit communities to improve food security.
Community-specific food security committees have been established and a regional food security strategy will be put in place, aimed at addressing high rates of household food insecurity in the region.