Dear Editor,
As the political voice for 39 First Nations in Ontario, many which are located in the north east, The Union of Ontario Indians is often solicited for support on various projects, across Ontario. When these requests come in, we investigate the legitimacy, and merit of all projects, before making a suggestion to support, or take a pass on speaking out in support of any cause.
Standing in the vacant parking lot that is the proposed site of the NEO Kids project at Health Sciences North in Sudbury, we didn't have to look too far to be reminded of the vision that sparked such developments, as the Northeast Cancer Treatment Centre, Science North, the lakeside walkway along Lake Ramsay, and just up the road, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
All of these positive developments were the result of the vision one or several northerners, with the courage to follow their convictions.
The most recent visionary, is home grown, Doctor San Murray, head pediatrician at Health Sciences North. Dr. Murray wants to build a child and family friendly outpatient clinic that would serve the whole of northeastern Ontario.
This would allow families with children in need of ongoing and frequent specialist visits to do so right here in
in the geographical epicentre of northeastern Ontario, Sudbury. This would lessen, and in some cases do away with, the necessity of northern families to travel to the southern hospitals for ongoing follow up appointments.
Dr. Murray's vision already has the support of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (HSC), as well as the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa.
Such a center would substantially reduce the waiting lists at both southern Ontario referral centers, and attract more pediatric clinicians, to Greater Sudbury and northeastern Ontario. The added dedicated pediatric clinic space, would also make it possible to bring more visiting specialists to the north, as is already being done in such specialty areas, as pediatric cardiology.
All involved agree that this new facility would represent a "Best Practice" model of ongoing care.
Dr. Murray's and HSN's initial presentation to the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN), met with a request for more verification of the actual numbers of children and families now making the regular trek, year round to both HSC, and CHEO.
While we can understand the role of the LHIN, as the health care watch dog for the provincial government of the day, this proposal is clearly a case of " If you build it, they will come", and long overdue.
For every accident victim medevaced south on a busy holiday weekend, there are several northern families with children living with chronic health issues, forced to drive to Toronto or Ottawa, in all types of weather, for often the lifetime of their affected child.
On behalf of the Union of Ontario Indians, and the Anishinabek Nation, we fully support Dr. Murray's vision.
We need NEO Kids NOW!!!
Chi Miigwetch!!! for allowing me this space to share our opinion on behalf of our citizens, and especially our children.
Kindest regards,
Patrick Madahbee
Grand Council Grand Chief
Anishinabek Nation
