Aboriginal health in B.C. feeling the squeeze

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After successfully administering Aboriginal health programs in British Columbia for the past 10 years, an era of managing Aboriginal health funding in British Columbia is coming to an end.

On Dec. 18, 2001, the Aboriginal Health Association of British Columbia (AHABC) and its member Regional Aboriginal Health Councils (RAHC) received written notice from the Ministry Health Services that our contracts will not be renewed at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Campbell government has made the decision that, effective April this year, the Aboriginal targeted funding will be transferred to the five new Regional Health Boards in British Columbia.

For the past 10 years, the six Regional Aboriginal Health Councils have been charged with the responsibility to manage funding targeted to family violence, mental health, and addictions. Funding has been provided to First Nations bands and the urban Aboriginal population in B.C. I am of the opinion that the AHABC and the RAHC have done an excellent job, however, it appears that Mr.Campbell may think that his newly appointed Regional Health Boards will do a better job.

Even though the Liberal government has assured myself and my colleagues that the current budget (approximately $10 million) will continue to be protected, there is no mechanism in place that will ensure Aboriginal people will manitain autonomy in decision-making on resource allocation. I firmly believe that Aboriginal people should be responsible for the administration of Aboriginal programs and services.

I am also aware that the Campbell government would like to shape his new regional health boards with a very corporate style of governance. This means, if you are the head of a major corporation, (e.g. CEO or president) not necessarily in the health sector, you will be eligible to sit as a governor for a health authority. With corporate board members having little or no understanding of the health needs within Aboriginal communities, it makes me nervous to think how this funding will be managed.

As a former governor of a health authority in B.C. before being dismissed through the restructuring that occurred in an open cabinet meeting on Dec. 12, 2001, I am well aware of the pressures health authorities are under. There are times Aboriginal health is not always a priority as it should be.

Health authorities tend to be focused on acute care, managing deficit spending, nursing issues, continuing care, public health, etc. In the former health authority structure, there was a seat designated for Aboriginal representation and it was through this process that health authorities had a conduit in familiarizing themselves on issues of Aboriginal health. In the new health authority structure implemented by the Campbell government this seat no longer exists. As a result, Aboriginal people are not assured a voice at the governance table.

I am truly proud of the work of the Aboriginal Health Association of B.C. and the Regional Aboriginal Health Councils in how they have worked with Aboriginal and Metis communities. There was much success because Aboriginal people managed these programs successfully, and assisted First Nations in building capacity in their Aboriginal health programs. Being employed as a health director for a First Nation community in the province, I am well aware of the importance of these programs as they have contributed to the wellness that we as First Nations and Metis continue to strive for in our communities.

The Aboriginal Health Association of B.C. has written to each chair and CEO of the health authorities to request a meeting as soon as possible. The AHABC would like the opportunity to share some of its successes in delivering these programs for the past 10 years. It will also provide an opportunity to try and influence the decision-making of the health authorities in how targeted dollars should be managed.

The AHABC does have ideas on how the health authorities may want to proceed to nsure that Aboriginal people will continue to be provided with resources in programs and services. It's my hope that the health authorities will listen.

By the time you read this article, all chief and council of First Nation bands in B.C. and urban Aboriginal organizations will have received a letter from their respective Regional Aboriginal Health Councils advising them of the changes in service delivery. This will probably cause some panic in our communities, however, the AHABC and the RAHC's are committed to work until their existence comes to an end (March 31) to ensure that the health authorities are well aware of the needs in our communities. It is suggested that your community write to your respective health authorities and MLAs to voice your concerns.