COVID-19 Update # 13 from the WFN Health Director | May 13, 2020

Published: May 13 2020 12:28

May 13, 2020

Health Director Update #13

Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program Update

Virtual dental consultation services

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dental providers have postponed non-emergency services.
• NIHB will temporarily cover fees for consultation services by phone or other virtual methods offered by dental providers to help them assess clients’ needs and facilitate access to emergency dental care.
• Please contact your dental provider’s office if you require emergency dental services.

Virtual services and shipping for hearing devices

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, NIHB will cover some services that can be provided through tele-audiology, if offered by the provider. This includes: fitting and dispensing, hearing aid performance check and readjustment
• If providers offer fitting and support services through tele-audiology, they can temporarily ship hearing devices directly to you, so you don’t have to go to their office in person to pick up the item. This includes:
  • hearing aids o bone-anchored hearing system processors o replacement of cochlear implant processors
  • FM systems. Providers will program the hearing device according to client-specific needs before shipping, and contact you by telephone to provide the first fitting remotely.
• When providers begin offering in-person services again, they will contact you to schedule a follow-up visit to their office.

Temporary coverage for electric breast pump purchase

• Until further notice, the purchase of a double electric breast pump will be covered instead of a rental.

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy

• If a client infected with COVID-19 uses positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, this may increase the risk of transmission to others in the home.
• If you are in this situation, talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of continuing PAP therapy.
• Clients who have COVID-19 and continue PAP therapy can request additional supplies (tubing, filters, and masks) from the NIHB Program.

Information for parents and guardians of NIHB-eligible infant children

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be delays in registering an infant for First Nation status.
• In order to allow additional time for parents to register their infant children, NIHB has extended coverage of unregistered infants up to 24 months of age, until further notice.

• Infants up to 12 months of age can access most types of NIHB benefits under the identification number of their eligible parent or guardian. If your child has reached 12 months of age and is not registered, please call the NIHB Drug Exception Centre if pharmacy services are required. For all other benefits, call your NIHB regional office. You will be provided with a temporary NIHB client number that is valid until your child reaches 24 months of age.

Reminder - changes in other coverage

• Let NIHB know as soon as possible if you no longer have other health benefit coverage (for example, through an employer sponsored plan).
• Contact your NIHB regional office, the Drug Exception Centre (for pharmacy benefits), or the Dental Predetermination Centre (for dental benefits).
• NIHB will update your file right away to avoid delays in processing future claims.

NIHB Client Inquiries
Email
Atlantic 1-800-565-3294
Email:

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

CRISIS AND REFERRAL SERVICES offered in Mikmaw or English.
TOLL FREE 1-855-379-2099

Kids Help Phone is available 24/7, by calling 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)

As always, continue with Proper hygiene which will reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food
  • use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• when coughing or sneezing:
  • cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand
  • dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
  
  

Marla Robinson-Pyne
Health Director Wasoqopa’q First Nation
Phone: (902)742-0257

Weekly Health Update #6 with AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: May 12 2020 15:59

Hi Everyone,

What a beautiful day it was yesterday! I hope you were able to get out in the sun and soak up some much-needed vitamin D to help boost your mood and energy!

As I’m sure most of you are aware, the announcement was made Friday that students will not be returning to school for the remainder of the 2019-2020 year. Students will receive another workbook/assignment and the school year will officially end June 5th. While this may not come as a surprise to many, the official announcement may be difficult to process, or accept. Covid-19 has really impacted our lives, and it can feel like a grieving process for both you and your kids, losing the rest of the school year.

I want to say to the graduates of 2020, I know that you are not getting the end of high school that you expected and worked so hard for. You have still accomplished so much, please be proud of that, and there will be other ways to celebrate moving forward. To the parents who now know that your children will be home until at least September, I know it can be overwhelming and difficult. To all parents and caregivers, who are there day in and day out, with no “break” and limited places to go, because of COVID-19, hang in there. Everyone, including the kids, are doing the best they can. Be kind to yourself.

This week we will be launching a “Get Up and Move” contest, so stay tuned on the ‘AFN Community Health Facebook’ page, or the AFN website. We will also be starting weekly draws on “WFD - What’s For Dinner?” posts. We want to hear from the community on how you are moving and what you’re cooking!

If there is a topic you’d like to see more about, such as 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

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

Disinfecting and Sanitizing Tips from AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: May 07 2020 09:41

Disinfecting and Sanitizing

*WARNING: PLEASE DO NOT COMBINE CLEANERS. FOLLOW ALL SAFETY INSTURCTIONS CAREFULLY*

Currently there is a shortage on ready-made disinfectants, household cleaners, and hand sanitizer in stores, and you may find you’re starting to run out of products at home. Below is some information on continuing to keep safe with limited amounts of ready-made products

Hand Sanitizer

When thinking hand hygiene, best practice is to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds whenever possible. This means save your 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizers (approved by Health Canada; a full list can be found using the link below) for when hand washing isn’t available, such as in your car after grocery shopping or getting gas. The more you are able to stay home, the less hand sanitizer you will need. Supervise young children when preforming hand hygiene, to make sure they are using proper technique, as well as not using too much product or ingesting products.

Health Canada has issued a notice not to use any homemade hand sanitizers; including those made with alcohol, witch hazel, or essential oils. Even from trustworthy sites, such as the recipe on the WHO website, which is meant for licensed producers manufacturing in a controlled environment.

Household Cleaning

While many products such as Lysol, Clorox, or other disinfecting products may be harder to come by, bleach is a fairly inexpensive, and a readily available product and can easily be mixed to use for daily disinfecting. Wear gloves to protect skin when handling cleaning products, and open doors and windows, to allow fresh air in. Always follow the label of ready-made products you are using, or mix a new batch of bleach solution every day. Wash surfaces with hot soapy water, and follow with disinfecting product or bleach solution on high traffic areas such as:

 When cleaning hand held electronics such as phones, tablets, and gaming devices, consider using a protective cover that is easily wiped. Follow manufacturers instruction for cleaning and disinfecting. If no instructions are available, use 70% alcohol or wipes, and dry surface well.

These products are ONLY meant to be used to clean household surfaces, never use on skin or internally, as it can cause serious harm.

Taken from Health Canada Website:
Use bleach in a well-ventilated area and never mix with other chemical products.
To prepare diluted bleach for a solution to disinfect high-touch hard surfaces, do so according to instructions on the label or in a ratio* of:

• 250 mL (1 cup) of water per 5 mL (1 teaspoon) unscented household bleach, or
• 1 litre of water (4 cups) per 20 mL (4 teaspoons) unscented household bleach

* assuming bleach is 5 % sodium hypochlorite, to give a 0.1 % sodium hypochlorite solution

References:

Nova Scotia government: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/staying-healthy/#clean
Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19.html
Recall Homemade Hand Sanitizer: https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/72687a-eng.php
Approved Hand Sanitizer List: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/hand-sanitizer.html

Weekly Health Update # 5 With AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: May 05 2020 15:09

Hi Everyone,

Week 8 and we’re seeing some light at the end of this tunnel! I hope you were able to enjoy some of the new lifted restrictions! You can find the list of things that are newly reopened at: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200501006. Keep in mind, We MUST still practice social distancing, keep activity within household units, and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene. A lot of people are feeling done with this, and frustration may be growing, but following the orders of Dr. Strang will allow us to lift restrictions in the quickest way possible, so please, hang in there!
Please continue to reach out. Being limited in where you can go, and who you can see is really hard. Use video chatting, texting, call, or send letters! Kids can make crafts and pictures and mail to friends and family. Spread some kindness. As always, all the resources lines are listed at the bottom.
Getting topic posts done is going a little slower than I would like, so I will be working hard tomorrow to get a physical activity, as well as a work from home, post up on the Facebook page. If there is a topic you’d like to see more about, such as 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

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

Wasoqopa'q First Nation | Grass Clearing Tenders | 2020

Published: May 05 2020 14:37

Wasoqopa'q First Nation is seeking persons interested in bidding on grass clearing tenders for the various communities. The applicants must have:

• All tools and essentials required to mow grass, whipper snip around community homes and buildings as well as remove and clear garbage and grass from the sites being cleaned
• The ability to transport your equipment to and from the various sites.
• Must be energetic and willing to work long hours

The areas requiring grass clearing are as follows:

1. Yarmouth Reserve
2. Gold River Reserve
3. Medway River Reserve
4. Ponhook Lake Reserve
5. Hammonds Plains Reserve

In order to obtain all required information on these tenders please email Lloyd Mac Dougall at .

The Tender officially closes on May 16th at 12 noon. Late applicants will not be considered.

Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative | Youth Engagement | Child Welfare Reform and Mi'kmaw Governance

Published: May 05 2020 11:33

We are requesting youth from Wasoqopa'q First Nation to participate in Video Conference meetings over the next couple weeks and months as we engage youth from all 13 NS Mi'kmaw communities on Child Welfare Reform and Mi'kmaw Governance.

Our hope is to host meetings with youth (age 14-18) and engage them on issues relevant to the Mi'kmaw Nation so that the voice of our youth is not lost as we move forward together. Please let me know the names and contact info of up to 10 youth that could participate in these calls so that I could forward all the necessary information.

If I could receive names and contact info of youth from your community in the next day or two that would help us extremely as begin these engagements.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. 

Wela'lin,

Storm Gould, B.Comm
Administrative Support - Governance

Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office
Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative
75 Treaty Trail
Truro, NS B6L 1W3

Phone: 902.379.2209
Cell: 902.304.9227
Fax: 902-379-2186