Esquimalt Nation celebrates the opening of new health centre

Eighteen to 20 permanent staff will work at the health centre. (CTV News)

What has been eight years in the making has finally become a reality for the Esquimalt Nation.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, the new Esquimalt Nation Health Centre was officially unveiled. It aims to provide a culturally appropriate space for members needing to access health care.

Stephanie McHahon is the Esquimalt Nation’s health director and says it was a historic day for the community.

“We have nurse practitioners and physicians starting,” said McHahon. “We really just want to encompass everything involved in wraparound services for the community, including mental health.”

The Esquimalt Nation is made up of 384 members. Chief Jerome Thomas says the new centre will ensure that all members of his community will now have access to timely health care.

“A lot of people will have a family doctor now since the doctor will be full time,” said Thomas.

It is run by the First Nations Health Authority and will also provide its services to two other neighbouring First Nation communities, including the T’sou-ke First Nation and the Scia’new First Nation.

“We will attach as much of our community members as possible and if we continue to have space to attach more Indigenous people, then we will attach other members from different communities, including the urban community, as well,” said McHahon.

The $7-million facility includes a family room for health-related programming, a community kitchen, a traditional healing room and a soon-to-be-opened dental office.

“It’s really an exciting time because previously we were doing all our health services out of our administration office with minimal space,” said Andrea Thomas, the Esquimalt Nation’s executive director.

Eighteen to 20 permanent staff will work at the health centre, providing a number of different health services that the small South Island First Nation says were previously missing from its community.

“Now that we’ve been able to expand into the health centre, we’re going to be able to offer more services,” said McHanon.