Premier John Horgan (Photo: Government of B.C. flickr)
Sophie Gray
Local Journalism Initiative
The B.C. government has announced a new COVID-19 framework for rural Indigenous communities.
Today, Premier John Horgan was joined by representatives from the First Nations Health Authority to announce the new collaborative framework which will help ensure Indigenous communities can access critical health care during the pandemic.
“This new collaborative framework will bring immediate relief to these communities,” said Horgan, adding his commitment to moving patients to the critical care they need at a moment’s notice. “This will help our work to stop the spread of COVID-19, while supporting better health outcomes into the future.”
Developed in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority and Provincial Health Services, the new framework focuses on principles of cultural safety and humility, and adds to work already underway by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC.
The framework aims to give leaders in rural and remote Indigenous communities the ability to adapt to meet their unique needs. It will also provide improved medical transportation options, accommodation options, new COVID-19 testing options, culturally safe and respectful contact tracing, access to virtual health services and increased mental health support.
“This addresses both the urgent short-term responses needed to support communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary long-term upgrades to health care access for rural First Nations populations,” said Colleen Erickson, board chair of the First Nations Health Authority.
Operation of the new health services will be left up to local leaders to assess the needs and best practices for their own communities.
