Nova Scotia signs agreements with Lebanese universities to bring more doctors to province
The Nova Scotia government has signed agreements with two universities in Lebanon to bring family doctors to the province.
Premier Tim Houston announced today that a five-year memorandum of agreement with the Lebanese American University in Beirut commits the university to sending 10 ready-to-practise physicians to Nova Scotia.
Two doctors from the university are expected to arrive in Nova Scotia during each year of the agreement.
The province plans to spend $5 million during the life of the agreement to cover the cost of medical school residency positions, as well as licensing exams and immigration and relocation expenses.
In return, the participating doctors will be required to sign an agreement that requires them to work in Nova Scotia for three years.
Meanwhile, the premier confirmed that two doctors from the other university — the American University of Beirut — are already practising in Nova Scotia and another two are on the way.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Climate change is driving a rise in tick-borne diseases. Here's what to know.
This is a March 2002 file photo of a deer tick under a microscope in the entomology lab at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho, File) TORONTO — A warming climate is driving a rise in Lyme disease and the introduction of lesser-known tick-borne diseases, public health specialists say. 'Climate change in Canada is happening at a much more accelerated rate than we see in parts of the rest of the world,' said Heather Coatsworth, chief of field studies at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. 'Ticks, which are eight-legged organisms, but general bugs, all require a certain amount of heat and humidity to complete their life cycle,' she said. Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia continue to be the hot spots for blacklegged ticks, which can carry bacteria, parasites and viruses that cause disease in humans — but the changing climate is allowing the tick population to grow in other parts of the country, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Coatsworth said. Janet Sperling, a scientist who specializes in bugs and the president of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, said that means increased awareness of tick-borne illnesses is needed not only among the public, but among primary-care providers and infectious disease specialists. 'A lot of doctors have been told — this was their training — 'you can't get Lyme disease in Alberta; if you don't have a travel history don't worry about it,'' said Sperling, who lives in Edmonton. 'There's no doubt that it has changed and the education hasn't caught up with some of the doctors,' she said. The rise in tick-borne disease doesn't mean you should stay inside, experts agree. But you can protect yourself. Here's what to know about the illnesses and how to safely enjoy the summer weather. HOW COMMON IS LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease has been on the rise in Canada and the United States for several years. When provincial public health units started monitoring it in 2009, they reported 144 cases across the country. The preliminary case count for 2024 is 5,239, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The real number is likely higher because many people may have had very general symptoms and never got a diagnosis, Coatsworth said. 'There's estimates that if things keep going the way they are and climate change keeps going the way things go, that in 25 years we'd have about half a million cases of Lyme disease here in Canada,' she said. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease can feel like many other illnesses and may bring on fever, chills, fatigue, headache, swollen lymph nodes and/or muscle and joint aches. One telltale sign of Lyme disease is a rash that looks like a bull's eye, a target or that is circular or oval-shaped. But Coatsworth cautions that about 30 per cent of people who are infected never get a rash, so a Lyme disease diagnosis shouldn't be ruled out if people have other symptoms. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER TICK-BORNE DISEASES? In the last couple of years, some provinces have started monitoring three other diseases spread by blacklegged ticks: anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus. Of those, anaplasmosis — although still rare — seems to be growing the fastest, said Coatsworth: 'It's kind of the new kid on the block.' When public health officials first started monitoring it around 2012, there were about 10 to 50 cases per year in Canada. There were more than 700 cases of anaplasmosis reported last year, Coatsworth said. 'It's really picking up speed within the population.' The symptoms of anaplasmosis can be similar to Lyme disease, without a rash. They can also include cough, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Babesiosis can also cause similar symptoms to Lyme disease without a rash, but it often causes anemia as well, Coatsworth said. Powassan virus can cause fever, chills, headache, vomiting and general weakness but it often progresses to serious neurological symptoms, such as encephalitis (brain swelling) and meningitis. CAN THESE DISEASES BE TREATED? Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are both caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics, usually starting with doxycycline, said Coatsworth. Babesiosis is caused by a parasite and is similar to malaria, she said. It can be treated with anti-parasitic medications. There is no treatment for Powassan virus. Patients are treated with supportive care, which can include intravenous fluids, medications to reduce brain swelling and respiratory assistance. WHAT KIND OF TICKS CARRY THESE DISEASES? Two types of blacklegged ticks carry these diseases: Ixodes scapularis, also called a deer tick, is found in several parts of Canada, especially Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In parts of British Columbia, the dominant tick is Ixodes pacificus, also known as the western blacklegged tick. Ticks feed on the blood of deer, mice, rabbits and other mammals, as well as birds and reptiles. Birds can carry the ticks long distances, so they can be transported to different parts of Canada. The ticks get infected if the host animal is infected, and they in turn transmit the disease to humans when they bite them and latch on. WHAT DO THE TICKS LOOK LIKE? 'A lot of people are very surprised when I show them a blacklegged tick. They can't believe how small they are,' said Dr. Curtis Russell, a vector-borne disease specialist at Public Health Ontario. An adult tick that isn't full of blood is about the size of a sesame seed. A younger tick is about the size of a poppyseed. WHERE ARE TICKS FOUND? Ticks are found in wooded and grassy areas, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. That includes forests, parks and hiking trails, but ticks can also live in more populated areas, Coatsworth said. '(It's) a lot about the animals that exist in those environments. So a lot of those are peri-urban spaces ... kind of those in-between spaces that now have become just maybe your local neighbourhood park where there's a lot more squirrels. Small rodents and white-tailed deer, especially, have really contributed to sustaining the populations of ticks.' HOW DO I PREVENT TICK BITES? Preventing tick bites is similar to repelling mosquitoes, said Dr. Mayank Singal, a public health physician with the BC Centre for Disease Control. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and using bug spray are all important measures. Choosing light-coloured clothing is best because it's easier to spot a tick when it lands. Singal also encourages 'trying to not come in contact with foliage and bushes, because that's typically how they will latch on.' Russell said that means when hiking, stay in the middle of the trail. After outdoor activities, do a full-body tick check, including parts of the body that weren't exposed. Russell suggested taking a bath or a shower. 'You can check all your areas where the ticks might have been and if they haven't bit you yet ... they can maybe wash off,' Russell said. 'They usually crawl around ... before they bite and they usually tend to bite your hairline, your armpits, the back of your legs, your groin area.' Russell also recommends washing your clothes and putting them in the dryer, where the high heat will kill ticks. IF I FIND A TICK, SHOULD I REMOVE IT? Yes. Do it with tweezers as soon as possible, experts agree. A tick will embed its mouth in the skin as with the legs sticking out and it's important to remove the whole tick. 'You want to grab it as close to the skin edge as possible, squeeze the tweezers ... and grab the tick and then pull it straight up,' said Singal. 'We don't want to twist, we don't want to go left and right. Just pull it straight up so that we get all of it out as much as possible.' It generally takes about 24 hours for the tick to transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis or babesiosis while it's latched on. Powassan virus can be transmitted as quickly as 15 minutes after attachment, but very few ticks currently carry the virus, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. THEN WHAT? People can take a photo of the tick and submit it to along with information about where you were when you think it bit you. The service, run by several universities and public health agencies, will tell you what kind of tick it is and how much tick-borne disease risk there is in the area. If you had a tick on you and begin to develop any symptoms, see your health-care provider and let them know you were possibly exposed to tick-borne illness, Russell said. -- This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content. Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Experts point to B.C., Ontario for why Nova Scotia should not expand alcohol access
Nova Scotia is being urged to scrap any thoughts of expanding alcohol sales by a group of experts based in Ontario. The letter — signed by eight people from organizations such as the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation Project — has been sent to Premier Tim Houston and members of the legislature. It warns that more access to alcohol could have damaging impacts. It cited examples from B.C. and Ontario, where retail access has increased. "We need to get that message to the province before they make the same mistakes as Ontario and British Columbia have made," said Ian Culbert, the executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association, who is a signatory. The letter, signed by public health and policy experts, said research in both provinces shows when it is easier to buy booze, the health risks go up as well. It said that after Ontario expanded retail access to alcohol in 2015, alcohol-related emergency department visits rose in two years by more than 24,000. In B.C., a 20 per cent increase in alcohol retail outlets was linked to a 3.25 per cent increase in alcohol-related deaths. The letter points to alcohol-related harms, including avoidable hospitalizations, preventable deaths and heightened risk of chronic diseases such as cancer. "Alcohol is one of the leading causes of cancer after tobacco. In fact, it can lead to the development of nine different types of cancers," said Brandon Purcell, who also signed the letter and is with the Canadian Cancer Society. "Only about 50 per cent of folks in Atlantic Canada are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer." The Nova Scotia Alcohol Policy Coalition already issued its own warning to the province in a letter it sent to MLAs last month. It said that in 2022, alcohol was responsible for 571 deaths and almost 44,200 emergency department and hospital visits across the province. Survey underway in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is conducting a public opinion survey to see what people think about expanding retail access to alcohol. The survey, which closes Monday, includes questions on health and safety considerations for any potential changes, the types of stores where alcohol can be sold and locations where people are allowed to consume it. A news release issued last month said it is a good time to examine how alcohol is sold and consumed, in part because the province is taking steps to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. The release said about 1,500 Nova Scotians would be surveyed.
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
Lung transplant patients say expenses have left them in financial ruin
Nova Scotia patients want the government to provide more money to help those who have to leave the province for the life-saving care. The CBC's Carolyn Ray has the story.
