SIOUX LOOKOUT – On Thursday, October 22, staff at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) were on hand to accept a grant for $6,786.13 from the Northern Cancer Fund of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation to fund the purchase of an Emergency Shower in the Chemotherapy Preparation Anteroom for pharmacy staff. This shower is critical to ensure a safe work environment for staff who prepare chemotherapy medications for patients receiving treatment in Sioux Lookout, and was made possible thanks to donors to the Northern Cancer Fund.
“We are one of 13 regional partner sites affiliated with the Regional Cancer Program and are able to offer our patients chemotherapy in their home community or close by, negating the need for travel to Thunder Bay on a regular and on-going basis,” said Karen Parent, Director of Clinical Support Services, SLMHC. “This is of great value to patients and families, however, to continue to offer the program, we must constantly update our equipment and ensure we continue to meet safety standards. We are delighted to receive this grant, which will enable us to immediately construct a needed Emergency Shower, and are very grateful to the donors who made this a reality.”
The grant represents an ongoing commitment by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation to provide exceptional care for patients in Sioux Lookout and surrounding communities. Previously, between 2005 and 2014, $87,780 was provided to SLMHC to fund chemotherapy and palliative care equipment, along with a Tandberg unit for Telemedicine and funding for a new hemodialysis machine. This new grant brings the 11-year total of investments to $94,566.
“Our donors are the heroes who make these investments come to life,” said Glenn Craig, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “We’re honoured to be the charity of choice amongst individuals and businesses in our region who believe passionately about the gift of exceptional healthcare in Northwestern Ontario. Recently, Tbaytel made a significant gift that extended their already very generous support of healthcare in our region, and it is thanks to them, and many other donors that the Health Sciences Foundation can provide funding for critical equipment purchases, like the Emergency Shower that was announced today.”
The Northern Cancer Fund of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is proud to raise funds that 100% dedicated to providing exceptional cancer care for residents of Northwestern Ontario. More information about the impact of gifts can be found on the Health Sciences Foundation’s website at www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca.