Syrian refugee preparations underway in P.E.I. health system
'It's really a work in progress'
As 250 Syrian refugees arrive on P.E.I. over the next few months, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says the Island will be ready to take care of their medical needs.
Morrison said health officials are meeting regularly to plan as best they can for the arrival.
"It's really a work in progress," she said.
"A lot is changing, and we're learning more every week as they're starting to arrive."
Morrison said public health nurses plan to set up extra immunization clinics for refugees, which she anticipates many younger Syrians will need.
"In the last couple years, where they've not been in their homes, and have had to flee to another country, they may not have had a chance to have their immunizations, especially the children, and we want to be able to offer that," she said.
Morrison added some refugees may have missed out on proper treatment for chronic conditions as well, and that many may face mental health issues after living in and fleeing a war zone. She said many of the resources are already in place to ensure refugees get the care they need.
"This is work we're already doing, so it's not like we're starting from scratch," said Morrison.
"We're already dealing with immigrants and refugees on a regular basis, so it's not new. And we just want to make sure we continue to provide the services in the best way we can."
Health care providers stepping up
But Charlottetown pediatrician Dr. Kathy Bigsby is not convinced the island's health care system is as well prepared as it could be for the refugee influx. She's part of group sponsoring at least four Syrian families.
"Front-line healthcare workers have been doing good work for a long time to try to meet the medical needs, but it's not been in a really coordinated fashion because we've never needed to do that," said Bigsby.
"What we have in front of us now is this opportunity to try to meet the needs of a whole group of refugees arriving in a very short period of time."
We'll get them out of pain, get them healthy, and show them some empathy.- Dr. Mike Connolly
Bigsby's considering setting up a refugee health centre that would provide a wide range of services, and has put out a call to the medical community for help. So far, she said, a half dozen physicians have signed on.
"I always say in every challenge is an opportunity," said Bigsby.
"So there's an opportunity here to maybe do it better than we have in the past: do a better job of having professional interpreters, do a better job of recognizing what the unique healthcare needs of this population might be so we can provide better care to them."
Dental care need also likely to be high
Some Island dentists, like Mike Connolly, are looking to help too.
He's offered to take on as many Syrian refugees as he can to ensure they get the care they need quickly.
"One of the most consistent problems they've seen is lack of dental care and dental disease in children," says Connolly.
"That probably means decayed teeth, abscesses and whatnot. We'll get them out of pain, get them healthy, and show them some empathy and security in their new life in Canada."
Connolly said covering the cost of that dental care shouldn't be an issue for refugees, at least not in the first year. In addition to receiving basic P.E.I. health coverage, refugees will receive one year of supplementary coverage – including dental – from the federal government.