The NDP MHA for Torngat Mountains is raising concerns about the treatment of one of her constituents while they were seeking a kidney transplant.

Simeon Poker of Natuashish was notified in the Spring of 2020 that he would need a kidney transplant. His brother was approved as a donor, and Poker was told there would be a wait of three to six months.

A year later, Poker was still waiting, which led MHA Lela Evans to get involved, expressing the need to address the language barrier facing many of her constituents. Poker is still waiting, which has had a significant impact on his well-being. Evans raised the issue in the House of Assembly yesterday.

She says the physical and mental toll has been extreme, as Poker’s fingers and toes have become blackened with diabetes damage.

Minister of Health, John Haggie, says, unfortunately, they’re at the mercy of other jurisdictions when it comes to transplants.

As transplants are not done in this province, they have to wait on Halifax or Toronto to accept transplant patients from Newfoundland and Labrador. However, Haggie expressed he would look into the manner.