New Outreach Screening Program at SLMHC

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) and the Regional Cancer Care Northwest (RCC-NW) have partnered to increase cancer awareness and screening to residents in Sioux Lookout and the thirty remote First Nations communities serviced by SLMHC.

In Northwestern Ontario, rates for breast, colorectal, cervical and lung cancer continue to be the highest in the province. Participation rates for cancer screening, especially for First Nations populations, are well below the provincial targets. This new cancer education and screening initiative aims to increase cancer screening rates with a particular focus on adults who have not participated in organized screening programs. In addition to creating education and awareness strategies, the program will work closely with community health representatives in the First Nation communities and organizations to make screening easier to attend and access. When a client flies into Sioux Lookout from a northern community, a one-stop shop approach will reduce the number of trips they need to make and the time spent away from home.

Mrs. Barb Linkewich, Vice President of Health Services said, “We want to bundle services for clients who come to the health centre. They will receive appropriate cancer screening and have access to other services for chronic disease prevention and management. Clients will also be able to access our excellent telemedicine program for diagnostic and follow-up care or visit our new mammography unit”.

“While still in the planning stage, many opportunities for education have been identified. They include a visit from the Giant Colon, which will make its grand entrance at the Sioux Lookout Memorial Arena in mid March, and we will be working with local radio stations to create programming in prevention and cancer screening education, and to advertise upcoming awareness events in the region. The Outreach Screening program will also support the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre’s new Breast Screening program and digital mammography unit. We will also participate at the annual Relay for Life in June 2012 here in Sioux Lookout”, added Mrs. Barb Linkewich.

Ms. Kristyn Kulchyski was hired as the region’s Outreach Screening Program Coordinator and will lead this initiative with the support of the SLMHC Ambulatory Care Department and Prevention and Screening at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

For More Information

Mrs. Barb Linkewich, Vice President of Health Services
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
Telephone: (807) 737-3030 ext. 6539