First Nations and Nova Scotia Health collaborate on COVID-19 testing – NS Health

July 10, 2020

Early on in the pandemic a formal request was made of Nova Scotia Health by Mi’kmaq First Nations communities in the province.

First Nations chiefs wanted their own health care professionals engaged in the battle against COVID-19. But they needed help.

“The idea was that if they were able to deploy their own staff to do the testing then it might allay some of the concerns and fears by community members,” said Nova Scotia Health Vice President of Health Operations, Madonna MacDonald.

The collaboration efforts were instant.

Nova Scotia Health would provide First Nation health care teams with the professional support, education, training, and access to swabs and test kits.

First Nations front line workers would in turn gain the confidence and ability to provide customized in-house programs to test their community members for COVID-19.

Read More: http://www.nshealth.ca/news/first-nations-and-nova-scotia-health-collaborate-covid-19-testing