Malnourishment Increasing in Iqaluit, Experts Suggest Higher Rates

Pediatrician Sindu Govindapillai in Iqaluit highlights rising malnutrition, with mothers struggling to breastfeed and seeking grocery support. Hospitalizations for malnutrition at Qikiqtani General Hospital increased, revealing a troubling trend exacerbated by the end of the hamlet food voucher program in March 2023. Researcher Vandna Sinha notes families are now down to one meal a day, and many malnourished individuals go undocumented. Govindapillai urges the government to enhance the Nunavut child benefit to combat the growing cost of living crisis and support children’s nutrition.