Island Health Board tours Central Island facilities, meets in Nanaimo
July 31, 2014
NANAIMO – As part of their regular meeting and their commitment to improve community engagement, Island Health’s Board of Directors and senior leadership team toured Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre facilities, Harris House Health Clinic and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital before today’s regular meeting (July 31).
Board members and senior leaders also met with several Central Island community representatives on Wednesday, July 30, to discuss potential steps to improve services for vulnerable children and youth. The consultations were aimed at determining possible gaps in existing programs as well as identifying what is working well and ways to build on that success.
“As we strengthen our partnerships in working with this very important population, we want to learn how we might improve services for children who may be in care or in high-risk families and youth who may be marginalized,” said Don Hubbard, Island Health Board Chair.
Wednesday’s tour of Tillicum Lelum facilities in Nanaimo provided insight into the 50 programs and services the Aboriginal Friendship Centre provides in education, health, social services, justice, culture and recreation. Since 1968, the Friendship Centre has grown to serve more than 5,000 people a year in four sites. The Centre is in the midst of a campaign to consolidate facilities into Tillicum Village, a five-acre site at 479 10th Street in Nanaimo. An 18-unit Salish Lelum Youth and Elders Housing project and youth safe house have already been built in the Village.
“We are committed to work collaboratively with First Nations and Aboriginal communities to support the health and well-being of the more than 40,000 Aboriginal people who live in our region,” said Island Health CEO Dr. Brendan Carr. “Our partnerships with friendship centres and First Nations communities are part of a broad strategy to improve their health.”
Harris House Health Clinic has been providing vital health services in Nanaimo for 15 years – located at 375 Franklyn Street since 2008. Services are based on a harm reduction philosophy building on clients’ strengths.
“The clinic is doing great work supporting clients to make healthier life choices and reduce transmission of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Gord Cote, Director of NARSF Programs Ltd., which operates Harris House.
NARSF Programs Ltd is a multi-service agency that provides child, youth, family and harm reduction services in the region through funding from Island Health and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
The tour of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital included a visit to the Emergency Wing that opened in September 2012. “NRGH has the busiest Emergency Department on the Island and it’s impressive to see this new facility put to such efficient use,” said Carr, who has a background in emergency medicine.
Island Health places a high priority on improving its community engagement process, said Carr. “If we are truly committed to improve the health of our populations, it is critical that both our Board and Island Health leaders have understanding of the health issues in local communities.”
The nine member board meets six times each year at locations throughout Island Health’s service area. The next public Board meeting will be held Thursday, November 27 in the South Island.
For more information on:
Island Health Board of Directors: http://www.viha.ca/about_viha/board_of_directors/
Our Cowichan Communities Health Network: http://www.ourcchn.ca/
Social Planning Cowichan: http://www.socialplanningcowichan.org/
Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre: http://www.tillicumlelum.ca/
Harris House Health Clinic: http://www.narsf.org/harm-reduction-programs/harris-house-health-clinic/
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital: http://www.viha.ca/locations/nrgh.htm
-30-
Media Inquiries
Sarah Plank
Media Relations Manager
Phone: 250.727.4275
Email: sarah.plank@viha.ca
NT5
