The challenge of bringing health care services to remote First Nations communities – The Globe and Mail
Aug. 11, 2015
The Challenge When Laurie Ducharme took over as director of operations at the Four Arrows Regional Health Authority in 2005, she had a vision to change health care in the First Nations Island Lake communities of Garden Hill, Wasagamack, Red Sucker Lake and St. Theresa Point in northern Manitoba that are collectively known as Four Arrows.
In 2011, health officials were unable to categorize nearly 52 per cent of deaths in the Island Lake community because of a lack of facilities to document them. Statistics from 2012 indicate that premature deaths, digestive disorders, respiratory infection, teenage pregnancy and mortality rates were higher for Island Lake people than Manitobans in general.
Ms. Ducharme said she knew the community needed a primary-care centre, a 21st century nursing station and public health projects from diabetes care to immunization.
