New medical health officer at Prairie North

Prairie North Health Region has announced the appointment of a new medical health officer.

He is Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, who previously worked with Sunrise Health Region in Yorkton and from April 2003 to April 2010 for northern Saskatchewan with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority. Before that he spent 15 years as a general practitioner and public health practitioner in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.

According to the Prairie North Health Region news release, he will be based in North Battleford. He began his new role June 29.

His duties, according to the health region, will include co-ordinating public health activities, promoting effective preventive health policies, enforcing public health regulations, and providing leadership in disease prevention and control.

In a statement Dr. Nsungu expressed his delight at joining Prairie North Health Region.

“I want to contribute toward making the residents and communities in Prairie North as healthy as possible,” Dr. Nsungu said.

He also identified chronic disease, incidence of tuberculosis and HIV rates as specific areas in which work is necessary to reduce the prevalence of factors that contribute to these illnesses.

“In public health, results don’t always come immediately,” Dr. Nsungu said. “It may be many years before the results of strategies and initiatives will be seen. Continuing to expand immunization coverage rates in Prairie North and the province is another priority to improve the overall health of our communities,” he said.

“Dr. Nsungu brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Saskatchewan health system to his public health position with Prairie North,” said Vikki Smart, PNHR vice-president of Primary Health Services, in a news release.  

“He has a keen understanding of the province and its people, and of the public health issues, concerns, challenges and opportunities we face.”