By Lincoln DePradine
The Ontario government has an ambitious plan of connecting everyone living in the province to a doctor, nurse and other primary healthcare providers.
The government, through health minister Sylvia Jones, last week announced an investment of $14 million under the plan.
Among those benefitting from the investment are TAIBU Community Health Centre and Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC).
“We are making bold, innovative and creative changes to strengthen all aspects of our healthcare system, making it easier and more convenient for you and your family to connect to the care you need in your local community,” Jones, who also is Deputy Premier, said at a funding announcement at Malvern-based TAIBU.
The event was attended by community representatives and four of Jones’ conservative government colleagues – Aris Babikian, MPP for Scarborough—Agincourt; Vijay Thanigasalam, MPP for Scarborough—Rouge Park; David Smith, MPP for Scarborough Centre; and Raymond Cho, MPP for Scarborough North.
Cho described TAIBU and SCHC as “two outstanding community health centres’’, and as “true pillars in keeping our residents in good health”.
“Health is wealth and healthy residents are the greatest asset Scarborough and Ontario can have,’’ said Cho, who also is minister of seniors and accessibility.
The $14 million, according to government, will connect up to 49,000 people to primary care teams in Toronto.
A government news release said the Doug Ford administration intends to spend $110 million altogether in an initiative targeting up to 328,000 people to ensure they have access to primary care providers.
“Ontario leads the country with 90 percent of people connected to a regular healthcare provider,’’ said the release.
“As a next step to close the gap for those not connected to primary care in Toronto, the province is supporting 11 new and expanded inter-professional primary care teams. Together, these initiatives will connect up to 49,000 Ontarians with primary care teams and provide services.”
However, as a government, “we know we can do more”, Jones said in her remarks at the TAIBU event.
She disclosed that TAIBU and SCHC are among the 11 organizations that are receiving funding to connect “youth, seniors, families, new populations and people living with complex chronic diseases to primary care practitioners”.
The investment in TAIBU, which has been providing a variety of programs and services to the Black and Caribbean community since 2008, is nearly $1.5 million. SCHC is getting more than $1.3 million.
TAIBU’s funding will assist with such things as the addition of “new mobile and satellite locations to make primary care more accessible’’ to people in need, Jones said.
The government was thanked for its funding by Michelle Tremblay, president of TAIBU, and by Liben Gebremikael, the organization’s executive director.
“We’re very grateful for the investment, for the confidence that the government has in an organization such as TAIBU,” said Gebremikael, calling the money a “significant” investment.
“Significant because it continues to help us to do the work that we need to do to provide services that are truly culturally appropriate to our community, knowing that the Black community faces major barriers when it comes to health and other social outcomes.”
MPP Smith, in brief comments, said: “We are very pleased with the investments announced today in local communities.”
For his part, MPP Thanigasalam – associate minister of housing – commended TAIBU and SCHC “for their steadfast approach in meeting the growing demands for primary care in Scarborough and beyond”.
TAIBU and SCHC, said MPP Babikian, “have a long track record in Scarborough, providing necessary care for residents in our community”.