Chetwynd wellness centre among new NPCCs in the Province

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Chetwynd’s MîÝoMâCihêwi Kamik Northern Nations Wellness Centre is among 13 new First Nations Primary Care Centre (NPCCs) across British Columbia to receive the go-ahead to open, according to a news release on September 3rd.

Ten new clinics, including the one in Chetwynd, will welcome new patients in the fall. Others are located in regions including the central interior, Vancouver Island, and the North Coast.

According to the statement, the new NPCCs open will increase the number in BC to 15; approximately three per region.

The province and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) said the announcement highlights “a key step toward increasing access to culturally safe, primary health care” for Indigenous communities across B.C.

According to Julie Morrison, FNHA’s vice president of regional operations for the North, the opportunity exists to “build and embed” a culture within these clinics.

“[This announcement allows] ceremony and traditional practices into the delivery of primary care services,” said Morrison. “It also allows us to address disparities that exist within B.C.’s health-care system.”

“By making delivery of health services community-driven and Nation-based, we are creating a safe and respectful environment for people to seek the timely care they need here in the North and all regions of B.C.”

Service delivery in each centre will be tailored to the needs of the communities it serves. 

Each NPCC will be operated in partnership with the local First Nations, FNHA and the Ministry of Health.

Recruitment for clinical and traditional roles is currently active in all regions of the province.

Centres offering services in phases will offer limited services to begin with and provide more as positions are filled.

The release says the opening of the new clinics highlights the provinces’ commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and to delivering services that are First Nations-led and informed by Indigenous people’s traditional wellness experiences.

Further details about the FNHA can be found on their website.