With the anticipation of warmer weather and sunnier days around the corner, I hope you are able to find some positivity in your daily living. It hasn’t been easy to remain optimistic over the last two years, as healthcare has witnessed a significant rise in specific concerns (such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation) as a direct result of the pandemic. I have heard from staff and clients who feel the need for a different kind of connection than we have been able to have for quite some time and yet are still hesitant to gather freely as we used to.
As restrictions are being lifted across the province there seems to be a balancing act taking place – mask-wearing is now optional in many settings and choices are being left to individuals as opposed to province-wide mandates. As a healthcare organization serving vulnerable populations, the CHCN continues to require mask wearing for staff, volunteers and clients, all of whom are coming on-site much more frequently. We are very pleased to be feeling a rise in energy around the CHCN hallways, and we are looking forward to a future of much more activity once again.
Throughout the pandemic, CHCN has been successful in its community outreach to promote testing and improve vaccination rates among residents of Northumberland County. In partnership with OHT-Northumberland organizations and the HKPR Health Unit, the coordination of testing and vaccinations has truly displayed the strength of agencies working together to achieve a common goal.
Our Board of Directors is currently focusing on several key initiatives, including recruitment of new directors and work around the Health Equity Charter, which as a Community Health organization guides our efforts in recognizing and confronting barriers to equitable health.
For more information on the Health Equity Charter, please visit the Alliance for Healthier Communities website at; https://www.allianceon.org/Health-Equity-Charter. If you are interested in applying to sit on our Board, please contact Jill Williams at jwilliams@porthopechc.ca.
I would like to thank all of our staff for their perseverance during these trying times and hope that in our cautious optimism, we can plan for a new future. Some of what we have learned over the last two years has proven to be quite beneficial, and with that knowledge we may find ourselves using innovative ways to deliver programs and services going forward.
Wishing you a safe and healthy spring season!
Warmly,
Taryn Rennicks
