A plan to better health care services for Aboriginal communities is being put into place in the northeast. The Local Health Integration Network is launching their Aboriginal Health Care Reconciliation Action Plan. It will essentially increase access to traditional healing programs, and improve mental health and addiction services. On top of that, the action plan will encourage health care providers to make the environment more welcoming to Aboriginal people,, and develop a cultural competency safety training plan for NE LHIN staff.
The need for this plan was identified after speaking with Aboriginal Northerners and consulting with the LHIN Board of Directors. Part of the new plan will involve a scan of the population’s health and existing services across the region. The new plan will help ensure future generations don’t have to suffer from poor health and well-being.
The Chief Executive Office for the North East LHIN says the Reconciliation Action Plan is a starting point to ensure equal health care services for First Nations residents living in North Eastern Ontario.