Arabic version: سكان بورولوولا يطالبون بالتحقيق في زيادة الوفيات القابلة للتجنب

Residents in this Top End town say 15 preventable deaths in six months is ‘not normal’. Families in Borroloola are calling for an investigation into whether at least some of 15 recent deaths in the community from chronic health conditions and suicide could have been prevented. According to ABC News, community members describe the situation as ‘not normal’.

Mambaliya elder Nancy Yukuwal McDinny expressed her shock at the deaths, particularly noting the loss of her younger brother, who died at the age of 50 from cancer last year. She emphasized the pain felt by families in Borroloola, stating, “And too many of our young people, we don’t know why they passed away — they were young people.”

The local clinic has been criticized for not providing adequate health checks and preventative care. Families argue that overworked staff are unable to focus on primary healthcare due to the overwhelming number of acute cases they handle. Maria Pyro, another resident, highlighted the dire need for improved health services, stating, “It’s a crisis. We need help now, not tomorrow, not when it suits the government to come down here — we want to see action now.”

The Northern Territory Health Department has acknowledged the community’s concerns and stated that it is running preventative health programs to address the high mortality rate. However, residents feel that these efforts are insufficient. Health Minister Steve Edgington has previously indicated that a new clinic is planned for Borroloola, but residents are demanding immediate action to prevent further loss of life.

The issue of avoidable deaths among Indigenous Australians has been a growing concern, with recent data indicating that the rate has increased from 177 to 220 per 100,000 people over the last decade. Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has recognized the distressing situation in Borroloola and expressed the federal government’s commitment to addressing the life expectancy gap. However, local families are urging for immediate solutions to the ongoing health crisis in their community.