Primary Health Care Centres in northern part of PMH celebrate milestones
This past September marked the 20-year anniversary of two Primary Health Care Centres in the northern part of PMH region, which opened in 2005. When opened, the two new PHC centres offered space for community health programs and services including expansion of the regional diabetes program, an improved mental health strategies and further development of chronic disease prevention initiatives. Community councils, the Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, and Manitoba Health all worked collaboratively to bring the primary health care centres to fruition. The federal Primary Health Care Transition Fund provided financial support as part of 17 provincial projects that were announced two years earlier in 2003.
The Ethelbert Primary Health Care Centre was the first to open in the former Parkland Health region. It was a Community Health Resource Centre pilot project in 2000 and official grand opening ceremonies for the ongoing site were held in May 2001. Next year, the Ethelbert PHC will reach its 25 year milestone.
Today, staff at these centres are able to offer a wide-range of services closer to home including, but not limited to, treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, collection of blood and other lab samples; dressing changes, chronic disease self-management education and monitoring, health promotion programming, harm reduction support, pregnancy testing, cervical screening, education for expecting and new mothers as well as parenting support, and immunizations. Physicians, NPs, Allied Health Professionals provide additional itinerant services at the Primary Health Care Centers regularly.
