Kashechewan First Nation Launches Mobile Clinic for Evacuees

A mobile clinic has been established in Kapuskasing, Ontario, by a corporation majority-owned by the Kashechewan First Nation to provide medical care for evacuees from the community. These evacuations began in early January 2024 after Chief Hosea Wesley declared a state of emergency due to a failure at the local water treatment plant, leaving the community without access to clean water. So far, over 1,900 of Kashechewan’s 2,300 residents have relocated to various cities across Ontario, including Kapuskasing, Timmins, Kingston, and Niagara Falls.

Christopher Thind, the director of health for Kashechewan, noted that the community formed Creemergency the previous year to gain greater control over evacuation management, which is frequently necessary each spring due to flooding risks. Traditionally, the federal government, through Indigenous Services Canada, and the provincial Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response have selected vendors for these evacuations.

Mobile Clinic Aims to Alleviate Local Healthcare Strain

Creemergency has partnered with the O’Briens Corporate Group in Kapuskasing to manage medical services for the evacuees. Thind explained the need for the clinic, stating, “We recognize that most health systems in the north are relatively fragile in terms of either lack of staffing or different schedules. What we wanted to do was provide a service that complemented what was available at the hospital.”

To date, 81 evacuees have utilized the mobile clinic for medical assistance, which Thind described as “an absolutely impeccable use of resources.” By providing care at the mobile clinic, these individuals have been kept out of the local hospital system, reducing pressure on the Sensenbrenner Hospital.

The mobile clinic is staffed by volunteers, including registered nurses and nurse practitioners from the Canadian Medical Assistance Teams, an organization typically engaged in international missions. Support for the clinic has come from various sources, including a $50,000 donation from mining company Agnico Eagle, which operates the Detour Lake Gold Mine northeast of Kapuskasing.

Future of Mobile Clinics Uncertain

Currently, there are no immediate plans to set up similar clinics in other cities hosting evacuees, as those areas typically have greater healthcare capacity. However, Thind mentioned that some evacuees might end up in Cochrane, and the possibility exists for relocating the clinic there temporarily if necessary.

The initiative exemplifies a proactive approach to ensure that evacuees receive necessary healthcare while minimizing disruptions to local health services. As the situation evolves, the community remains focused on addressing the immediate needs of its members during this challenging time.