The new 60-bed Meno Ya Win Health Centre has had its grand opening in anticipation of offering services to patients in Sioux Lookout on Nov. 7.
Considered a First Nations' Centre of Health Excellence, the hospital uses First Nations concepts of health, healing and wellness and will assume a leadership role in developing and delivering culturally sensitive health care in northwestern Ontario. This includes around-the-clock translation services and a traditional healing, medicine and food program.
The new hospital will also provide more than 300 jobs in Sioux Lookout.
The centre will serve more than 30,000 patients every year.
“This is a very important day for health care delivery in the North and especially for 28 First Nations communities that we serve spread over one-third of Ontario's land mass,” said Dave Murray, hospital president and CEO in a statement.
The new hospital replaces two existing 58-year-old hospitals and will provide new or expanded services including screening and diagnostic mammography. The chronic disease program is expanding by two stations for a total of six at the hospital.