Transforming health care for northern First Nations

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 56, No. 8, October 2014, Page 383 News

The Northern First Nations Health Partnership Committee has released a document summarizing a comprehensive plan developed with the guidance and direction of northern First Nations community leadership over the past year. The document (Implementing Our Health and Wellness Plan: An Overview) communicates the work of transforming the health system for northern First Nations. Goals relate to developing cultural competency and safety, improving accessibility of services, supporting mental wellness, developing collaborative communications activities, and supporting a locally representative health workforce. The committee also identified four goals as working priorities for the 2014 year: cultural competency, primary health care, public and population health, and mental wellness and substance use.

Over 35% of the First Nations population in BC lives in the northern region, where First Nations face distinct health service challenges due to the many remote communities spread out over a vast area. The ongoing partnership between Northern Health, the First Nations Health Authority, and the First Nations Health Council is creating new opportunities and solutions to the challenges related to health service delivery while acknowledging the wider social determinants that impact health and wellness. The Northern First Nations Health Partnership Committee was established to implement the goals of the Northern Partnership Accord (signed in 2012). The committee includes representation from Northern Health, the First Nations Health Council, First Nations Health Authority, and northern First Nations.

The document is available online at www.fnha.ca/wellnessContent/Wellness/NFNHPC_Implementing_Our_Health_and_Wellness_Plan_Overview.pdf.

. Transforming health care for northern First Nations. BCMJ, Vol. 56, No. 8, October, 2014, Page(s) 383 - News.


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