Are your child's immunizations up to date?

The Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region will be holding three days of special drop-in immunization clinics in La Ronge for infants and pre-school aged children.  No appointments are necessary.

These will be held Wednesday, September 8, Thursday, September 9, and Friday, September 10, 2010, at the La Ronge Health Centre from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  For more information, call 425-4800.  

Setting Priorities

SUN/MCRHR Recruitment & Retention  

The SUN/MCRHR Recruitment & Retention Committee is looking for members of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses to attend a meeting to set priorities for remaining funding. Deadline for registration is September 7, 2010.  For more information, click here. 

Back to School

The Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region wishes all students a successful school year!  We are pleased to partner with schools to deliver services in the communities of La Ronge, Creighton, Pinehouse, Sandy Bay and Weyakwin.  Our staff provide dental services, immunizations, sexual wellness education, mental health and addictions counselling, and much more!  We look forward to working together in wellness for a healthy community.  To view the full-page of information that appeared in the August 12, 2010 issue of The Northerner, click here.  

New Board Members Appointed

Health Minister Don McMorris announced the appointment of La Ronge Fire Chief Ron Pratt and youth program coordinator Lorraine Bear of Sandy Bay, to the Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Authority Board. Pratt was designated Vice-Chairperson. To read the complete news release, click here. 

2009-10 Annual Report

The 2009-10 Annual Report of the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region is now available by clicking here.   

Health & Safety Leadership Charter

Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region Chief Executive Officer Kathy Chisholm was one of 200 Saskatchewan business and community leaders who declared their commitment to the health and safety of their employees and communities on June 10, 2010.  To read the principles of the charter, click here. 

Air medevac service enhanced

The Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region is pleased to announce enhanced access to medical air transport for its residents.  The region, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has selected Transwest Air to provide a dedicated basic to intermediate air medevac service to complement the Provincial Air Ambulance service that already responds to urgent situations.  For the complete news release, click here.

West Nile Virus Protection

Northerners who travel south should take appropriate precautions against mosquitoes that spread the West Nile Virus, says Dr. James Irvine, Medical Health Officer for the three northern health authorities.

Travellers can significantly reduce the risk of mosquito bites by:

• using appropriate insect repellent;
• wearing protective clothing when outdoors;
• reducing the amount of time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn; and
• maintaining screens on campers so they fit tightly and are free of holes. 

For the complete public service announcement, click here.

Sooner, Safer, Smarter

Sooner, Safer, Smarter is a newsletter for health care providers, patients, and administrators who are interested in a patient-and-family-centred healthcare system in Saskatchewan. Each issue will update you on the progress being made in transforming the surgical care experience in the province.  To view the latest newsletter, click here.  To subscribe, clck here.

Camp Healthy Bear

The La Ronge Children's Festival on Canada Day once again played host to Camp Healthy Bear, organized by the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region and staffed by volunteers - employees and their families and friends.  Hand-made Teddy Bears, donated by the SaskTel Pioneers, served to introduce children to healthy lifestyle habits.

Forest fire smoke and your health

Along with the pleasant days of summer comes the risk of forest fires.  Sometimes even with distant fires, or even fires in neighbouring provinces, we can have smoke conditions in our communities.  Forest fire smoke can have an effect on our health, especially if we already have lung or heart problems.  The Medical Health Officer for the three northern health authorities reminds you to take measures to reduce adverse health effects.  For more information, click here.  

Flin Flon Soils Study 

A comprehensive assessment of exposure and health risks related to metals in soil in Flin Flon, Manitoba and Creighton, Saskatchewan has concluded that the likelihood of adverse health effects among area residents from exposure to these metals is negligible to low.  The results of the study were shared on June 17, 2010 at a community open house.  For the complete news release, click here.

For a four-page summary of the results, conclusions and recommendations from the Flin Flon Soils Study, click here.

More information is available on the Ministry of Health website.

Detailed reports are also available at http://www.flinflonsoilsstudy.com/

A one-page summary of the Community Health Status Assessment prepared June 17, 2010 is available here.  For a poster-size document, click here. 

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Some cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been confirmed in the La Ronge area.  Information letters have gone to families through schools and daycares.  For a fact sheet on pertussis, click here. 

New! - Specialist Directory

Saskatchewan has initiated a surgical specialist directory.  For the news release, click here.  To go directly to the online directory, click here.

The Cost of Healthy Eating

The Cost of Healthy Eating in Saskatchewan 2009: Impact on Food Security

This report was written by the Public Health Nutritionists of Saskatchewan. It provides information on food costs, geographical differences around the province, and how food costs are a part of food security.  To view the report, click here.

H1N1 Vaccine 

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health is now recommending that the H1N1 vaccine be offered only to individuals who are:
- previously unvaccinated, and travelling to areas with current H1N1 activity;
- previously unvaccinated pregnant women.
It is preferable that children who have now attained the age of six months receive the 2010 seasonal influenza vaccine once it is available in the fall of 2010 which will contain the H1N1 vaccine.

Contact your local health centre to make an appointment or if you have any questions.

Creighton - (306) 688-8620

La Ronge - (306) 425-4800

Pinehouse - (306) 884-5670

Sandy Bay - (306) 754-5400

At the present time, there is no indication that the H1N1 virus is circulating in the province.  In the fall, the H1N1 vaccine will be included in the regular seasonal vaccine.