COVID-19 Update # 12 from the AFN Health Director | April 27, 2020

Published: April 28 2020 09:08

April 27, 2020

Health Director Update #12

NON-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS (NIHB) AND COVID-19

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is providing the following information on the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NIHB program is continuing to provide benefits and services while following the current and evolving public health guidance from health professionals. The following information has been collected from the NIHB program website.

For the most relevant information visit the NIHB program updates page here: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1578079214611/1578079236012

What should I know?

Pharmacy

• The NIHB Drug Exception Centre and regional call centers continue to operate and receive calls from clients and providers.
• Prior approvals for many medications covered under NIHB have been temporarily lifted, and duration of approvals for some medications has been extended.
• The NIHB program normally covers up to a 100-day supply of chronic medications. In determining the quantity to refill for clients, pharmacists will consider advice from professional associations and regulatory bodies, as well as patient-specific factors. NIHB has asked pharmacists to consider the unique living circumstances of some NIHB clients (for example, the need to travel long distances to a pharmacy).

Mental Health Counselling

• NIHB covers mental health counselling through telephone or video conferencing. Contact your mental health service provider to confirm whether they can provide counselling services through tele-health.
• To find an enrolled mental health counsellor in your area, please contact your NIHB regional office here: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1579274812116/ 1579708265237 Medical Transportation
• NIHB is continuing to support clients who need medical transportation benefits to access urgent and essential medical services.
• Vulnerable clients will be supported by prioritizing private modes of transportation, such as use of their own vehicle or having a family member drive them.
• Check with your health or benefit service provider to confirm whether routine, non-urgent appointments should be postponed.

Medical Supplies and Equipment (MS&E)

• The regional offices continue to operate and receive calls from clients and providers.
• Those with serious medical conditions, compromised immune systems, and adults of 70 years or over will have their MS&E benefit requests reviewed as a priority.
• If you are unable to see your prescriber to get a new prescription for the replacement of equipment or supplies, your provider may use the existing prescription on file for the replacement of:
  • limb and body orthotics,
  • custom shoes and orthotics,
  • medical grade compression stockings,
  • mobility equipment,
  • incontinence and ostomy supplies,
  • self-care benefits.
• If you are unable to see your physician, testing requirements (ABG and oximetry testing) are being waived for clients applying for 9 month, 1 year and yearly renewal coverage for home supplemental oxygen.
• For circumstances caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic, higher quantities of supplies can be requested without medical justification.
• Please contact your regional office if you have questions about MS&E benefits. Dental and Vision
• Non-emergency services should be postponed. Call your provider’s office to see if any scheduled appointments have been cancelled or postponed.

Updates and resources: Government of Canada COVID-19 updates:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Outbreak Update: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

Regional Office Contacts: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1579274812116/1579708265237

Marla Robinson-Pyne
Health Director Acadia First Nation
Phone: (902)742-0257

Grocery Services Available to Members in Nova Scotia

Published: April 27 2020 16:28

We are providing the below list to our members. It provides a list of grocery services available in our areas. This list may not be complete and situations change in each location, so please contact the store directly to find out what options are available. You can call 211 for help navigating services in Nova Scotia or visit http://ns.211.ca/

* There is also a website (https://www.instacart.ca/grocery-delivery/halifax-ns) that will pickup and deliver your groceries within 1 hour.

** Also see the Excel file available at https://bit.ly/COVID19resourcedirectory (please print to make this file easier to view)

Weekly Health Update # 3 With AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: April 21 2020 10:05

Weekly health update with AFN Community Health Nurse

Hi Everyone,

This weekend was a tragic weekend for Nova Scotia and for Canada. Families, friends and communities are hurting and I want to send my deepest condolences to anyone affected by this tragedy. These past 5 weeks have been difficult as it is, so trying to process this can be very difficult. As Premier Stephen McNeil said, “it’s okay to feel sad, or angry, or hopeless, but what’s not okay is to bear all those feelings alone.” Check in with friends and family. As well, please reach out to any of these numbers listed below for help. You are not alone.

Our Mental Health services provided by NSHA are still being offered via telephone.

Eskasoni FN has offer the services of the Eskasoni Crisis and referral line services. These services can be offered in Mikmaw and English.
Eskasoni CRISIS AND REFERRAL SERVICES
TOLL FREE 1-855-379-2099

CMM Mental Wellness Team:

Mental wellness manager:
Katie MacEachern
(cell) 902-899-5345
(email)

Mental wellness advisor:
Katelynn Luymes
(cell) 902-890-2391
(email)

Behavioural support advisor:
Tiffany Brennan
(cell) 902-890-1651
(email)

National Lines:

Canada Drug Rehab Addictions Services Directory: 1-877-746-1963
Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645
First Nation and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
National Eating Disorder Information Centre: 1-866-633-4220
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

NS Website: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/mental-health/?fbclid=IwAR1BYqLhtjbLIHnTz9lS-mq_TEoWHhF-dfZgwPTLI1a1P-8I9gDqYweswng
(Click the link and scroll down to find Therapy Assistance Online, and MindWell-U a free 30-day mindfulness challenge starting every Tuesday)

Best links to get information:

Please see our Facebook page: AFN Community Health and answer the joining questions for access. Frequent updates, resources, and links will be posted there.

Nova Scotia Government: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

Nova Scotia Health Authority: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus

Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

WHO advising on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line: call 24/7 1-888-429-8167

Kids Help Phone: call 24/7 1-800-668-6868
text CONNECT to 686868
or chat online on their website

If there is anything else that you are looking for more information about or ideas on nutrition, physical activity during isolation, coping strategies, child and youth health, etc., please let me know and I can look into helping you, as well as, the community.

Stay safe and take care of yourself

Chelsea Sawyer
Community Health Nurse
O: 902-627-1245
C: 902-277-2297

COVID-19 Update # 11 from the AFN Health Director | April 15, 2020

Published: April 15 2020 14:05

April 15, 2020

Health Director Update #11

NS COVID-19 Projections

Government released COVID-19 projections on April 14, that show how COVID-19 could progress through the province through to June 30 if people continue to follow public health orders to stay home, social distance, limit essential gatherings to no more than five people and practise good hygiene.

Today, Nova Scotia reported 517 positive cases of COVID-19. According to the projections, if Nova Scotia had not put strong public health measures in place, the province could have instead had 943 cases as of today. They also show that if Nova Scotians continue to follow public health orders, there could be 1,453 cases by June 30, but with poor compliance, cases could grow to 6,269 over that time period. It is important to note the numbers are only modelling estimates.

The projections show a flattened peak in total cases in May that continues into June if public health measures continue.

Testing has proven to be effective. The QEII Health Sciences Centre's microbiology lab is operating 24-hours. Nova Scotia is second in Canada in the number of people tested per million.

Other highlights of the projections include:
-- without public health measures, the model projects hospitalizations of COVID-19 cases would peak at about 85 in May then slowly begin to decline. With strongly sticking to public health orders there would be a peak of about 35 in May and then decline throughout June
-- currently, the most cases in the province are in the Dartmouth/southeastern community health network, almost double of nearby Halifax

The pandemic modelling was developed by staff from the Department of Health and Wellness, Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK Health Centre. Details can be found here: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/modelling

The full news release is available at: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200414003 and in French at: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200414004.

A recording of the news conference is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL8mPczIC00 and a short audio recap from Dr. Strang will be available shortly at https://anchor.fm/nsgov.

To date, Nova Scotia has 16,755 negative test results, 517 positive COVID-19 test results and three deaths. Confirmed cases range in age from under 10 to over 90. Ten individuals are currently in hospital, four of those in ICU. One-hundred and twenty-four individuals have now recovered and their cases of COVID-19 are considered resolved. Cases have been identified in all parts of the province. A map and graphic presentation of the case data is available at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/data

Marla Robinson-Pyne
Health Director Acadia First Nation
Phone: (902)742-0257

COVID-19 Resources from Indigenious Services Canada (ISC)

Published: April 15 2020 11:28

The below resources have been made available from Indigenious Services Canada:

Covid Resources - NS.pdf

Covid Resources - NB.pdf

Covid Resources - PEI.pdf

Covid Resources - NL.pdf

Covid Resources Information Document - Federal Supports for Individuals.pdf

Covid Resources Information Document - Federal Support for Businesses.pdf

Weekly Health Update # 2 With AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: April 14 2020 08:36

Weekly health update with AFN Community Health Nurse

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all were able to enjoy your Easter weekend, even with restrictions in place. Maybe you tried something new, or you were able to virtually “visit” with friends and family. We have just started week 5 of work from home, and physical distancing protocols, and I want to thank everyone who has adhered to these guidelines. If you haven’t watched today’s (Monday, Apr 13^th) provincial update from Premiere McNeil and Dr. Strang, I really recommend it. It was a very optimistic address. As always, if you are struggling, or need some help, please reach out to us in the Health Department, or your local council member.

Last week I posted some information in the Facebook group (AFN Community Health) about financial health, and planning. If you aren’t in the group please join! If not, you can also reach out to me anytime and I can send you some information. This is a difficult time for everyone and working out a plan can help relieve financial stress and keep you on top of payments.

This week I will be adding some more nutrition information. I’m not sure about you, but I am struggling to keep up with meal ideas. Being home 24/7 with kids, 3 meals a day and snacks is A LOT! So, I have been in touch with Angela MacDonald, who many of you will remember is the dietician with UNSM. She has created some excellent videos, and more are to follow. Nutrition can be a tricky subject in a time of stress, and unknown. So, I want to assure you, that whatever you are doing now, is ok. If you are looking for information and ideas, it is available.

Best links to get information

Please see our Facebook page: AFN Community Health and answer the joining questions for access. Frequent updates, resources, and links will be posted there

Nova Scotia Government: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

Nova Scotia Health Authority: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus

Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

WHO advising on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line: call 24/7 1-888-429-8167

Kids Help Phone: call 24/7 1-800-668-6868
text CONNECT to 686868
or chat online on their website

If there is anything you are looking for more information on or ideas on: nutrition, physical activity during isolation, coping strategies, child and youth health, etc. Please let me know and I can look into helping you as well as the community!

Stay safe and wash your hands

Chelsea Sawyer
Community Health Nurse
O: 902-627-1245
C: 902-277-2297