Support for the KO Telehealth from Sioux Lookout Zone First Nations continues
from News and Updates at http://telehealth.knet.ca
Telehealth Community Engagement
Posted by: Tina Kakepetum Schultz on Wednesday, April 12
My name is Tina Kakepetum Schultz. I have been recently hired as the KO Telehealth Community Engagement Worker.
One of my job requirements is to work with the First Nations that are connected to Telehealth on the Kuhkenah Network (K-Net). My first task was to meet with the 24 Chiefs and Council from each of these communities.
The Health Canada Primary Care Health Transition program funding that supported the KO Telehealth program ended March 31, 2006. FNIHB announced they will extend the program by an additional four months (April - July) providing bridge funding for the existing telehealth services. The next two years of funding was presented as an interim step towards developing a longer term telehealth sustainability strategy under the First Nations Health Blueprint negotiated in Kelowna.
KO Telehealth was given two tasks to complete within the first four months of this two year interim funding period:
- KOTH has to obtain 24 signed agreements (BCRs) from Chiefs and Councils of each partner KOTH First Nation supporting reinvestment of travel costs savings into sustaining Telehealth.
- Build a sustainability business case for Telehealth.
If the work of obtaining the BCRs from all the First Nations is successful, then FNIHB will support an additional 20 months of funding to build a sustainability plan for Telehealth.
Since February 24, 2006, I have met with 20 First Nations to discuss future sustainability funding for Telehealth.
I would like to say thank you to the Chiefs and Councils who have made a commitment to support the ongoing operation of the KO Telehealth initiative. The following First Nations are commited to providing BCRs supporting this program:
- Bearskin Lake
- Big Trout Lake
- Cat Lake Lake
- Deer Lake
- Eabametoong
- Fort Severn
- Kasabonika
- Kingfisher
- Lac Seul
- Mishkeegogamang
- Muskrat Dam
- Neskantaga
- North Caribou Lake
- North Spirit Lake
- Pikangikum
- Poplar Hill
- Sachigo Lake
- Sandy Lake
- Webequie
- Wunnimun Lake
I will be meeting with Slate Falls, Keewaywin, Nibinamik and Wapakeka First Nations over the next two weeks.
I would like to thank each of the Chief and Council for the kindness and hospitality they showed to me during our video conference meetings as well as receiving me into their communities. I look forward to working closely with each community in the coming years.
MiiQuetch!!!