Provincial funding will help local Indigenous communities access primary care

$1.9 million in funding has been announced to help connect Indigenous communities with primary care. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell reports.

Many Indigenous people in the region could soon get easier access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

The provincial government has announced funding to help a southern Ontario based Indigenous-led health care organization expand primary care services.

“People who haven’t had to endure that type of pain or suffering, whether they were raised to encounter or not, have a difficult time understanding where Indigenous people are coming from in terms of their healing, health and wellness,” explained Doug George, senior manager of traditional healing at Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC).

George says intergenerational trauma that many First Nations people experience can impact their ability to access appropriate health supports.

“So, their first point of contact within hospital systems, or health care systems, when people have biases against Indigenous people. Based on the decisions, that has the potential for causing harm to people,” George said.

George was on hand as Lambton Kent Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault PC announced more than $1.9 million in provincial funding to support SOAHAC in helping people connect to a family doctor or primary health care team.

“We’re utilizing nurse practitioners more. And we even see there’s going to be a bigger need for them in the future to come,” said Pinsonneault.

SOAHAC currently has six sites in communities across the region, in addition to 13 First Nations and friendship centres. The organization says its primary care services and mobile outreach will be expanded, serving urban Indigenous populations, as well as remote First Nations communities.

The expansion will help connect some 2,200 to primary care across Lambton, Kent, Middlesex and surrounding areas.

And it’s not typical health care that patients will receive. SOAHAC CEO Jan Martin says it’s wholistic care, with health professionals who recognize the specific needs of Indigenous people.

“They understand the culture. They understand what’s needed in an integrated care model. We have our healers here as well. They understand the intergenerational trauma. They understand residential schools. You know, the truth and reconciliation that’s required,” said Martin.

SOAHAC says it will establish a process to accept new patients and will communicate this to local communities.

“That’s a good start, is what I’d say. And so, we need to do a lot more work out there to be able to correct the damages that have been done,” said George.