With recent announcements and plans from the province to close the Eriksdale hospital; this will affect our First Nations in nearby communities that utilize this shared health facility for primary care. This has left us not only disappointed but left feeling neglected and discriminated against. Shared health was supposed to enhance our health care options and health centres, however this recent announcement shows that this province continues to consider us as second class citizens.

“Our aging population requires this hospital for many primary care uses that with this plan to close; our people will be left with fewer options to seek medical assistance and emergency care. Services core to our aging population and vulnerable members.” says Chairman Chief Cornell McLean.

“Without it our people become at risk for medical help. The province again failed to consult its people and the First Nations who utilize their hospital. “McLean goes on to say.

“At the end of the day it is time for our own people to look after ourselves and turn our health centres into hospitals so we can deliver primary care; the risk of receiving inadequate care would be resolved” states Karl Zadnik, Chief Executive Officer for Interlake Reserves Tribal Council.

We continue to have small municipalities of less than 100 people look after communities which of many range far more than 1,000. This doesn’t make sense anymore, given that most of these municipalities are becoming ghost towns; it’s time to turn key these health centres in to full primary care hospitals in First Nation communities.

We once again are only asking to be involved in the decision making process that affects our people’s lives and wellbeing, in order to mitigate future risks so that we can begin to not only reconcile the past inefficient and ineffective government policies, but provide the care we absolutely need for our own people.

For more information, please contact Karl Zadnik, IRTC Chief Executive Officer, at 204-795-4747 or at karlzadnik@irtc.ca