The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is a health service delivery organization responsible for administering a variety of health programs and service for
First Nations people living in British Columbia (BC).
Overview
The FNHA is part of a
First Nations
First nations are indigenous settlers or bands.
First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to:
Indigenous groups
*List of Indigenous peoples
*First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...
Health Governance Structure in BC that includes the First Nations Health Council and First Nations Health Directors Association. The First Nations Health Authority emerged from a number of Tripartite agreements between
BC First Nations, the
Province of BC, and the
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...
that included the Transformative Change Accord: First Nations Health Plan, Tripartite First Nations Health Plan
007 and the Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nations Health Governance.
A first for
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, the FNHA is the first province-wide First Nations Health Authority in Canada. The FNHA plans, designs, manages and funds the delivery of
First Nations
First nations are indigenous settlers or bands.
First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to:
Indigenous groups
*List of Indigenous peoples
*First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...
health programs and services in BC. These community-based services are largely focused on health promotion and disease prevention – such as:
* Primary Care Services
* Mental Health and Addictions Programming
* Health Infrastructure
* Environmental Health and Research
*
Non-Insured Health Benefits
The FNHA strives to improve First Nations health outcomes and close the gaps that exist between
First Nations people in BC and the rest of the provincial population. The FNHA serves both the urban and rural First Nations population that includes 203 communities throughout the province.
On October 1, 2013, the FNHA completed the second phase transfer of federal programs and services from Health Canada.
Drinking water advisories
Drinking water advisories include Boil Water Advisory (BWA), Do Not Consume (DNC), and Do Not Use (DNU) are put in place by the FNHA's Environmental Public Health Services (EPHS).
FNHA in British Columbia monitors 285 community water systems in 193 First Nations in British Columbia. In 2011, 11 long term advisories that had lasted longer than 12 months, were lifted. In 2016 and in 2017, 7 long term advisories were lifted. By January 31, 2019 there were 10 Drinking Water Advisories in effect across 8 First Nation communities.
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Medical and health organizations based in British Columbia
First Nations organizations in British Columbia
Indigenous health in Canada