National Immunization Awareness Week | April 26 – May 2, 2026
National Immunization Awareness Week | April 26 – May 2, 2026
The Time is Now! Get Immunized.
Not so long ago, there was no way to protect yourself from diseases such as diphtheria, polio, meningitis, or measles. But vaccines changed that landscape. Rigorous testing and continuous safety monitoring provide overwhelming evidence not only that vaccines are safe and effective, but also that they are crucial tools for preventing serious illness and even death. Many diseases are now easily preventable through vaccination, and this has greatly improved our health outcomes.
Disinformation, misinformation, mistrust in science and growing polarization are undermining public confidence in vaccines here in Canada. Hesitancy is increasing in some communities, and in certain regions, immunization rates are no longer high enough to prevent outbreaks. In 2025, Canada even lost its measles-elimination status. This is a stark reminder that we cannot take for granted decades of hard-earned progress in vaccine confidence and coverage, as it has the possibility of being reversed overnight.
This is not the time to turn back the clock on life-saving innovation.
The time is now – to reaffirm trust in the remarkable benefits of vaccines; to continue to rely on the clear evidence of vaccines’ safety and effectiveness; to counter dis- and misinformation; to stay informed; and to keep up to date with our immunizations.
Immunize Canada invites everyone to stand up for vaccines this National Immunization Awareness Week!
In Prairie Mountain Health, you can receive immunizations by contacting your local Public Health Office, Nurse Practitioner, medical clinic or pharmacist.
Information from National Immunization Awareness Week (NIAW): National Immunization Awareness Week website https://immunize.ca/niaw
One Habit, Many Benefits: We know moving our bodies is good for us — but how?!
One Habit, Many Benefits:
We know moving our bodies is good for us — but how?!
Welcome to PMH Moves – a year-long Health Promotion series shared through PMH Communications. Each month, we’ll highlight a different way movement supports health across the lifespan — from boosting mood and focus to strength, walking, healthy aging, and staying active through the seasons.
While the topics will change, the message stays the same: every bit of movement counts — and it all adds up. Take what works for you and leave the rest.
This month’s article highlights how movement supports physical health, brain function, mood, and sleep — all at the same time.
Physical Health Daily movement reduces our risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Regular movement can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol, improve joint mobility, strengthen muscles and support heart and lung function. That’s a lot! And to top it all off, physical activity also helps manage many chronic health conditions.
Brain Function Did you know that physical activity can improve brain function?! Movement increases cerebral blood flow, promotes new brain cell growth, and boosts neuroplasticity while decreasing the risk of dementia.
Mood Physical activity significantly boosts mood by triggering the release of hormones. Specifically, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which act as natural stress relievers, reduce anxiety and combat depression.
Energy Levels and Sleep Regular physical activity can significantly improve sleep quality and duration by reducing insomnia symptoms, helping you fall asleep faster, and increasing time spent in deep, restorative sleep. It also helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, reduces stress and anxiety, and manages body temperature to facilitate better, uninterrupted rest.
There isn’t much we can do that benefits as many parts of the body as movement does – all at the same time!
Looking at the Whole Day The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines remind us that health isn’t just about exercise – it’s about how we move, sit and sleep across the whole day. The guidelines encourage us to build regular physical activity into our routines, limit long periods of sitting, and aim for good quality sleep each night. When these pieces work together, they support better physical health, mental well-being, and overall energy.
Every Minute Counts The good news? It doesn’t take hours at the gym to see benefits. Even 20 minutes of movement per day can make a difference – and it doesn’t have to happen all at once. A short walk, stretching, taking the stairs, or an activity break during the day all add up.
Birtle Personal Care Home latest to participate in door mural project
Birtle Personal Care Home latest to participate in door mural project
The ‘Adopt a Door’ initiative within Prairie Mountain Health places personalized murals on personal care home doors to help make residents feel more at home. One of the program’s overarching goals is to make it easier for residents to find their way to their rooms. Recently, Sunnyside Personal Care Home in Birtle held an informal event to showcase the new doors.
Birtle Sunnyside Personal Care Home Recreational Workers (l-r) Tracey Howe and Ashley LeFranc stand near one of the recently adopted doors.
Tracey Howe and Ashley LeFranc are Recreation Workers at Sunnyside PCH.
“We were very excited to see our residents’ family members and members from the community attend our open house. After touring folks around, attendees were invited to our dining room for coffee and a visit. The residents really enjoyed seeing everyone,” they said.
Each door costs $250 to ‘adopt’, covering materials, labour, and the installation company’s mileage. Clear plastic covers were added to protect the door murals, with their cost covered by donations to the Recreation Department.
Residents, local organizations, and community members who purchased their own murals, or donations received in memory of past residents, were used to design individual murals. The remaining murals were selected by the recreation department in consultation with the nursing staff.
“We were very pleased that murals for all of the resident doors were purchased. We received donations for a few extra doors, so we decided to have murals placed on all the doors along the hallways, including the hair salon and bathtub room. We also placed a couple of street signs to name the hallways.”
“The residents loved their new doors and enjoyed watching the doors be completed. It has really brightened up our hallways.”
With the ‘Adopt a Door’ project complete, Tracey and Ashley are already moving on to the next ‘beautification’ initiative.
“Our next project is to paint the hallways and common rooms to make our personal care home feel more home-like. In spring, we will renovate the flower beds and begin our annual ‘Adopt a Planter’ fundraiser,” they said.
Taking Recovery to New Heights: New Ceiling Lifts Support Safer Rehabilitation
Taking Recovery to New Heights: New Ceiling Lifts Support Safer Rehabilitation
Ron Jersak, PT (left) is trying out the new lift and sling with Jill Twordik, PT (right).
Rehabilitation is an important step in helping patients regain strength, balance, and confidence after illness or injury. Therapy Services has introduced new ceiling track lifts in the inpatient gyms to support this process. These lifts help patients practice standing, walking, and other exercises more safely, while also allowing therapists to focus on guiding recovery rather than providing heavy physical support.
On March 10, 2026, the Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) Therapy Services had Occupational Therapists (OTs), Physiotherapists (PTs) and Rehabilitation Aides (RAs) trained on newly installed ceiling track lifts in the inpatient gyms.
The ceiling track lifts installed in the gyms feature a special feature called a trainer module. This allows PTs and OTs to offload a patient’s weight when the patient is wearing a sling in a standing position or when they are trying to move from sitting to standing. Patients wear a walking sling attached to the lift to practice their balance or improve their mobility. This allows patients to try mobilizing or completing exercises without fear of a fall that could result in injury. Less physical, hands-on support is also required by the Therapist or RA when a patient is in the lift, compared to when a lift is not used to complete the same actions.
The ceiling track lift has a safe working load of 275 kgs (605 lbs). Slings used with the lift system have a safe working load of 244 kgs (560 lbs).
Warren “Mickey” Bone (front center) is pictured with Kyle Davidson, PT (left), Elmer Orellana, RA (back center) and Zachary Lundrigan, PT (right).
The project began in spring 2021 when the vendor loaned a sample lift to the Therapy Services Department. This gave staff the chance to try the equipment and share feedback on how it could improve patient care.
Following the trial, an application was submitted to fund ceiling lifts for the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy gyms as capital equipment. However, several logistical challenges needed to be addressed before installation could move forward.
The original plan was to install the lifts using ceiling attachments. To ensure the lifts could safely support the required weight, a structural engineering assessment was needed. This approach presented some barriers, so the plan was revised to use an alternate system with floor-mounted bracing.
On December 24, 2025, the Therapy Services program was notified that ceiling track lift systems for both gyms were approved for funding through the generous support of the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation. This was a welcome holiday surprise!
Work then began to make minor modifications within the departments to prepare the spaces for lift installation. The vendor installed the lifts in early February 2026. Staff completed training one month later, after which the lifts were ready for patient use.
Jill Twordik, Physiotherapist at BRHC, said, “This is going to be great to use with patients! I can already think of the first person I will use this with!”
The vendor is teaching the group of OTs, PTs, and RAs on how to use the new ceiling track system.
Warren “Micky” Bone was the first patient to use the lift. He is working to recover following a recent stroke. When asked what he thought of the new lift, he said “Its great! At first I was afraid of falling but I know it will hold me up. It is helping me work on my balance and walking without the fear of falling.” Mr. Bone has been completing standing and balance exercises with physiotherapy with the plan to also start practicing how to safely get up off the floor. The Prairie Mountain Health Therapy Services Team is grateful to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation for their support with this project to enhance care for patients receiving rehabilitation in the hospital.
March 2026 | Donations for PMH
March 2026 | Donations for PMH
Hockey Fights Cancer donation Dauphin/Swan River
Pictured from l-r are Taylor Kristjianson, Jamie Graham, Bodhi Bloomer, Shelley Tokarchuk, Jordan Height, Sherrie Schroeder, Ryder Gardner, Carter Sigurdson, Josh Weir, Parks Gardner, Ben Poole, Noah Hanneson, Noah Smigelsky and Terri Strong.
The Parkland U18 Rangers, in conjunction with Embroidery by Design (Bill and Lynda Nicholson), have been proud to host a “Hockey Fights Cancer’ game for nearly 10 years. Bill and Lynda (Embroidery by Design), who are huge supporters of the Parkland Rangers, donate the special game day pink jerseys that are used for three games (over three years) and then auctioned off as a fundraiser. All proceeds from each year’s game (raffle, 50/50 draw and every third-year jerseys) are donated to cancer care wards within the Parkland. This year, the Parkland U18 Rangers were proud to provide the Dauphin and Swan River cancer units with $2000/each.
And, as an added bonus, the Rangers came out on top of the hockey contest by defeating the Southwest Cougars on October 31st 5-4.
Prairie Mountain Health thanks the Parkland U18 Rangers for their generous donations and ongoing support of cancer care in the health region.
Dauphin Cancer Care Unit Benefits From Generous Donation
Pictured with one of the new chairs from (l-r) are DRHC cancer care unit staff Shelley Tokarchuk and Terri Strong.
A recent donation from the estate of an anonymous donor has gone towards supporting care at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre’s (DRHC) cancer care unit. The generous donation of $30,000, through the Dauphin Hospital Foundation, provided the funding to purchase five new Krug reclining chairs. These new chairs have the added feature of providing a heated seat and backing for patients while they are receiving their chemotherapy treatment. Often, patients need to sit for extended periods to receive intravenous fluids and/or blood products. Having a warm seat helps ease that chill and discomfort. In addition, the chairs offer a swing away arm that allows staff the ability to transfer patients to a stretcher if needed in an emergency.
Stick it to Cancer in Russell
Pictured in front are Sarah Reichmuch (at left) the key organizer of the event and Danielle Beischer (at right) who is with Abbey Vorlicek, both from Russell Health Centre. Representatives of the Major Pratt Hockey team proudly look on.
The Major Pratt Trojans High School Hockey Team was extremely pleased to present the Russell Health Centre with a cheque for over $25 thousand from proceeds through its ‘Stick it to Cancer’ fundraiser. While over the years the funds from the special hockey night went towards construction of the Expanding Community Cancer Care Building, now that the expansion is completed, the impressive amount has been allocated for the Palliative Care Unit at Russell Health Centre.
Prairie Mountain Health and the Russell Health Centre sincerely thank the Major Pratt Trojans for their very generous contributions to health care in the region. (Photo and files courtesy of the Russell Banner.)
PMH continues site visits with internationally trained physicians
PMH continues site visits with internationally trained physicians
Another successful community visit was held on Feb.27 with one of two internationally trained physicians who are set to begin seeing patients in Minnedosa in the fall. Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) and the Minnedosa Economic Development Office led local tours to introduce Dr. Karen Aquino to the community she will eventually be practicing in.
Dr. Aquino is one of seven physicians who were recruited by PMH through the University of Manitoba Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG). Dr. Moazzam Raza, who had his own community tour in December, will also be based in Minnedosa.
Tamara Kemp Boulet, Physician Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for the health region says the physicians were designated to be placed at various sites within PMH communities that require additional physician resources.
“The seven internationally trained doctors have signed return-of-service agreements requiring them to work in rural communities within the health region,” she said. “Communities allocated for this graduating class include Killarney, Minnedosa, Ste. Rose, Russell, Rossburn and Shoal Lake starting in the fall.”
All of these communities were identified as having a shortage of doctors, and recruitment efforts continue for other areas in PMH, she said. PMH organizes site visits for new physicians, so they can get accustomed to relocating to an area that suits their needs. These visits can include checking out daycares, schools, recreation activities, touring the health-care facility and meeting with council members and real estate agents, Kemp-Boulet said.
Besides touring the hospital and medical clinic, the visit included informational stops at the recreation centre, local seniors centre, library, vet clinic, food bank, Golf and Country Club, the Pavillion near Minnedosa Beach, and Catholic church.
In return for regional sponsorship, MLPIMG doctors agree to practice in their respective communities for four years. The Program is supported by the University of Manitoba —Max Rady College of Medicine, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, Shared Health-Health Care Recruitment and Retention Office, and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care.
Kemp-Boulet says most of the MLPIMG tours are already completed, except for ones that still need to be held in Ste. Rose and Russell.
Dr. Mohammed Badawi joins team at Beautiful Plains Community Medical Clinic
Dr. Mohammed Badawi joins team at Beautiful Plains Community Medical Clinic
Beautiful Plains Community Medical Clinic and Prairie Mountain Health are happy to share that Dr. Mohammed Badawi has joined our team.
Dr. Mohammed Badawi
Dr. Badawi is a family physician who specializes in palliative care and complex symptoms management. His clinical philosophy emphasizes patient and family-centered care, shared decision-making, dignity in illness, and a holistic approach.
He provides expert care for patients with both malignant and non-malignant diseases, including cancer, end-stage organ failure, and neurodegenerative conditions. His scope of practice includes complex symptom management, goals of care discussions, advanced care planning, end-of-life care, hospice care, community outreach, and coordination of home-based care. He also has extensive experience in procedural care such as palliative sedation, syringe drivers, and the use of mechanical pumps to support patients with advanced needs.
Dr. Badawi delivers care across hospital, hospice, community, and rural settings, ensuring that patients and families have seamless access to services regardless of location. His practice incorporates interdisciplinary teamwork, community outreach, tele-palliative care, and integration of technology to enhance quality of life and continuity of care.
Dr. Badawi completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Toronto and went on to complete a clinical fellowship in Palliative Care at the University of Toronto. He is fluent in Arabic and English.
Practice Information: Dr. Badawi’s practice will be based at the Beautiful Plains Community Medical Clinic. He will attend consults within a 1-hour radius around Neepawa. For referrals outside that geographic area, the consult can be virtual, by telephone, or patients can attend the Beautiful Plains Communicty Medical Clinic. Referrals will only be accepted from physicians and nurse practitioners.
18th Annual Camp Bridges Weekend Set for Circle Square Ranch, Austin MB
18th Annual Camp Bridges Weekend Set for Circle Square Ranch, Austin MB
“Love builds bridges where there are none”
Prairie Mountain Health is organizing the18th annual Camp Bridges, a weekend camp for bereaved children and teens. Camp Bridges will be held at Circle Square Ranch, Austin MB on June 5-7th, 2026. The goal of Camp Bridges is to support children and teens with their grief and bereavement. This is achieved through activities designed to help share grief and honour memories in a caring community environment.
Camp Bridges provides a safe, supportive and fun environment where grieving children and teens learn that they are not alone in their grief and are free to share their thoughts and feelings with peers who are going through a similar experience. The camp is intended to complement existing bereavement services for children and teens by providing a weekend of “caring, sharing and memories”.
Camp Bridges accepts up to 40 applicants each year. Children and youth between the ages of 7-15 years of age, who reside in Manitoba, are welcome to apply. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] The application deadline is April 7,2026.
Donations are always welcome and appreciated to cover the cost of camp rental, meals and activities, so that campers may attend at no cost. If you wish to donate to Camp Bridges please contact Hope Roberts, PMH Regional Palliative Care Coordinator at 204-578-2310.
A reminder that Camp Bridges is also still in need of volunteers. The volunteer application deadline is March 23rd.
Hand hygiene is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent illness. It simply means cleaning your hands properly—by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub. Clean hands help stop the spread of germs. But do we wash our hands enough?
The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us how important hand hygiene is, along with staying home when sick. These actions led to fewer outbreaks and showed how powerful good health habits can be.
Hand hygiene is especially important in healthcare. Doctors, nurses, and other staff clean their hands often to prevent infections. These infections can happen in hospitals or during surgery, and good hand hygiene can help prevent them.
In healthcare settings, alcohol-based hand rub is usually the best choice when hands are not visibly dirty. For more details, see the images below.
Prairie Mountain Health monitors hand hygiene in hospitals, long-term care, and community settings. Hand-cleaning rates are reviewed every three months. You are always welcome to ask your healthcare provider if they’ve cleaned their hands – this is encouraged.
Healthcare providers should clean their hands at four key moments:
Before touching a client or their surroundings,
Before doing any clean or medical procedure,
After being exposed to blood or body fluids, and
After touching a client or their surroundings.
When visiting a healthcare facility, look for this sign below. Our goal is for healthcare staff to clean their hands at least 80% of the time at the four key moments. Below are examples of how often this happens across the region.
Facility/Program Type
Examples
Hand Hygiene Compliance Rate (How often staff clean their hands)
Large Acute Care Facilities
Brandon, Dauphin, Swan Valley
93.2%
Small Acute Care Facilities
Souris, Russell, Treherne
83.5%
Long Term Care / Transitional Care
Fairview, St. Paul’s, Evergreen Place
72.9%
Community Programs
Public Health, Home Care, Mental Health, Primary Health Care
92.5%
If the rates are not as high as our targeted 80%, facilities develop a plan to improve them.
Next time you receive care, remember—it’s okay to ask: “Have you cleaned your hands?” We encourage you to speak up. Together, we can support good hand hygiene and a healthier community.
Building on last year’s successful campaign, the Nourish to Flourish nutrition month theme returns in 2026 to highlight the impact of registered dietitians across Canada.
Dietitians play an essential role in supporting the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Dietitians work in various settings. They are located throughout Prairie Mountain Health in community settings, clinics, hospitals, and personal care homes.
Here are a few of the many ways that dietitians help people flourish:
Dietitians provide personal advice that suits your situation and needs.
Eating is a personal experience for each of us. Our nutritional needs and food choices are unique based on many factors such as age, traditions, income, and medical conditions. Food connects us to our communities, our cultures, and ourselves.
Clinical dietitians work at hospitals and personal care homes in the region. They help patients/residents to meet their nutrition goals through various health challenges. They also plan and approve menus that provide nutritious, balanced meals that meet the needs of each person.
Dietitians empower you to make informed, practical choices every day.
Food is more than fuel. Food is connection, comfort, and a pathway to flourishing. Dietitians support people in making informed choices that help them feel their best.
Cancer Care dietitians help patients/residents nutritionally through their cancer journey.
Health promotion dietitians give you the tools and support you need to take care of your health and wellbeing. It’s not just about telling people what to do – it’s about creating environments, communities, and policies that make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Dietitians in Health Promotion work with communities, organizations, and groups, rather than individuals. They promote healthy eating with a special focus on nutrition and food skills education such as meal planning and nutritious cooking.
Dietitians provide support through outpatient nutritional counselling and group sessions.
From managing Illness and navigating complex health concerns, to preventing disease and helping families build positive relationships with food, dietitians provide trusted, evidence-based guidance at every stage of life.
Dietitians provide individual nutrition counselling to help you reach your nutrition goals. They answer general nutrition questions such as for children and during pregnancy. They also provide guidance on specific conditions such as celiac disease and food allergies.
Dietitians also work in clinics throughout Prairie Mountain Healthto help people learn about healthy lifestyles and skills to manage health conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
How to access a Prairie Mountain Health dietitian for individual nutrition counselling
Call 1-877-509-7852 yourself to make an appointment
Talk with your doctor, nurse practitioner, or other healthcare provider and they can send a referral.
Prairie Mountain Health Dietitian Spotlight
Chantal cooking up some tasty foods with Neepawa and area immigrant settlement services.
Meet Chantal
Chantal Morais is a community dietitian. She enjoys working with community groups and organizations; a highlight is bringing community folks together to improve the health and wellbeing in their community such as working as part of the Neepawa Eats Healthy grassroots group to improve nutrition in Neepawa. This initiative has brought together many partners in the community and continues. Chantal has been able to give PMH clients a voice by inviting patient partners to work on projects and committees.
Morais said, “There is so much variety in community dietetics from cooking with prenatal and postnatal parents as part of the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) and newcomer groups to working on policy, quality improvement, and being active on provincial and national committees and working groups. Each day brings new challenges, different communities and people.”
Manitoba’s Dial – a Dietitian Helpline
Dial-a-Dietitian helps Manitobans of all ages understand how food choices can improve their health and prevent disease. Call Manitoba’s Dial-a-Dietitian helpline at 1-877-830-2892 to receive personal, professional and free nutrition information.
