Health workers meet

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CALGARY - Hundreds of delegates from all parts of Canada gathered together to attend the first ever national conference for Community Health Representatives (CHRs), held in the Calgary Convention Centre June 22 to 26.

The convention was hosted by the Alberta Indian Health Care Commission and took three years to plan and organize. The conference marked the 25th anniversary of the inception of the national CHR program.

During the opening day, chairperson Elizabeth Paul explained the role of CHRs who are Indian and Inuit para-professionals who work in their own communities to provide basic health care services.

"The 535 CHRs currently working across Canada act as very important resources in their communities," said Paul.

Their duties range from providing acute emergency care in instances such as child birth or sudden heart attacks, to general community health promotion and chronic care services she added.

"One of their primary roles is to act as a liaison between members of the local Native community and non-Native health care officials," she said.

The CHR program was originally developed by the medical services branch of Health and Welfare Canada in 1961. Some CHRs are still hired by the medical services branches but today others work directly for the Indian bands.

The program has grown from a mere handful of people in 1961 to more than 500 today and it encompasses all regions of Canada involving more than 60 per cent of Indian and Inuit communities.

During the three day event, delegates were treated to a Native drama and dance performed by Tony Shearer called the "Story of KOKO and the Sacred Women," and a barbecue of traditional foods at Stoney Park on the Stoney Reserve, west of Calgary.

CHRs also attended several workshops on a wide variety of subjects ranging

from drug and alcohol abuse to emergency child birth. Many CHRs shared personal experiences and exchanged tips on health care and medications.

On the final day, a banquet was held to pay tribute to Jack Sinclare and Ethel Martens, the two founders of the CHR program and to the many CHRs who have served their communities for more than twenty years. Randy Bottle, Blood Band councillor and representative of the Alberta Indian Health Care Commission, accepted a commemorative plaque from the CHRs in recognition of Commission's help in organizing the conference.

In an interview after the closing ceremonies, Elizabeth Paul said the conference had gone well.

"This has been a unique opportunity for CHRs to gather, to share and to communicate with each other," she said.

Paul also said she had enjoyed her stay in Alberta and Calgary in particular as it was so friendly. Paul added that she is hoping to organize another conference next year.