The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), provincial government and Indigenous Services Canada have agreed to work together to provide funding for harm reduction services in Saskatoon.
Saskatoon Tribal Council’s harm reduction program is being expanded with the new funding agreement.
STC plans to use the funding for needle pick up and outreach programs, client transportation, engagement and client navigators.
“I am very pleased to announce the very promising partnership between the provincial government, First Nations Inuit Health and the Saskatoon Tribal Council,” Saskatoon Tribal Council Tribal Chief Mark Arcand says in a statement. “STC excels in providing accessible status blind services to ensure First Nations and other citizens in Saskatoon receive the best care possible. We look forward to ensuring preventative harm reduction measures that are delivered in a culturally safe and respectful manner. We and our partners agree that a collaborative approach is necessary if we are to reduce the rates of HIV and hepatitis C in Saskatchewan. Together we can and will affect real change which enriches people’s quality of life.”
Indigenous Services Canada and the Ministry of Health, through the Saskatchewan Health Authority will each contribute a total of $825,000 by April 2024.
“Our government is pleased to support the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s harm reduction program,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “Increasing access to prevention services for HIV and hepatitis C requires a joint effort, and we applaud the collaboration between partners on this project.”
STC will provide in-kind payments of $50,000 for 2018-19 and $100,000 each year until March of 2024.
“We know that First Nations-led and delivered programming and services can have the biggest impact on improving health outcomes for Indigenous peoples,” Jane Philpott Minister of Indigenous Services adds. “Currently
30 First Nation communities in Saskatchewan are offering harm reduction services, and Indigenous Services Canada is pleased to provide financial support to the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s harm reduction program. This new funding agreement will allow for expanded access to more First Nations people in Saskatoon and surrounding communities, and will support a full range of harm reduction and HIV/AIDS care services. I applaud the leadership of the Saskatoon Tribal Council for this important work.”
The money is also expected to be used to find a health centre director, immunization/administrative co-ordinator, outreach workers, casual staff and elder services for STC.
“This partnership approach to serving our community has been built over a number of years,” Saskatoon Health Region Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Susan Shaw said. “We look forward to more opportunities to support the Saskatoon Tribal Council in their good work.”
(PHOTO: Saskatoon Tribal Council logo. Courtesy, STC Facebook.)