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The Manitoba government is teaming up with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg Inc. (AHWC) on a one-year pilot project to offer a mobile primary health care clinic for underserved populations.
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“We know that people sometimes struggle to see a doctor or get regular check-ups when they are in precarious situations,,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in a release. “We’re pleased to work with the AHWC to offer a mobile primary-care clinic focused on offering basic health services in a culturally safe and accessible format. “This means if you’re feeling sick you can get health care right away, before it becomes serious, and we can put you on a path for long-term support so you can live a healthier life,” said Asagwara.
The mobile clinic will be operated by the AHWC and will cater to the primary healthcare needs of underserved populations, including those who are unhoused or precariously housed. The clinic’s team, comprising physicians, nurses, and support workers, will set up at predetermined locations to provide primary care, address immediate and ongoing health issues such as sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, and assist with chronic disease management. Additionally, the staff will connect individuals to social supports, harm reduction, and mental health services.
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“The Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, in collaboration with the provincial government of Manitoba and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, is pleased to launch the Mobile Health Care and Wellness Clinic, which will head out into the community Tuesdays through Saturdays to offer primary care from an Indigenous-led perspective,” said Della Herrera, AHWC executive director. “The Mobile Health Care and Wellness Clinic is a direct response to the voices of the community who have called for an alternate model of care to address their health needs. Our clinic will provide a multi-disciplinary team not only of a physician and nurse, but will also include a mental health crisis counsellor, an Indigenous social planner and peers offering a holistic approach to health. This endeavour is long overdue and will provide services that focus on addressing the needs of all those who experience inequitable access to health care.”
Funding of $271,000 for the mobile care van was announced in December as part of the Manitoba HIV Program and an additional $957,000 was included in Budget 2024.
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