Last January, the Somerset West Community Health Centre set out to make accessing health care services easier for immigrants to Canada by implementing the Multicultural Health Navigator Program. One year later and more than 200 clients served, the program has proved to fill a need in the community – and according to a recent review, that success is expected to carry on into 2015.
Since its launch, the navigator program has helped pair more than 150 clients with permanent, primary healthcare providers, and aided dozens more with accessing other health care services. Because of this, Champlain LHIN will continue to finance the initiative throughout 2015.
In the upcoming year, the Somerset health centre will be holding a health fair on Jan. 31 to help raise awareness of the services the centre offers and to find new clients in need of a navigator’s assistance.. Somerset West is also in the process of conducting client surveys to determine how the program can be adapted to better suit their client’s needs.
For some, navigating Canada’s health care system can be a daunting task, even if they have lived in the country their entire lives. For newcomers to the country who may not speak the language or understand the culture, accessing the health care services they need may prove to be next to impossible.
The program operates by pairing clients with “navigators” who not only speak the same language as them, but also have a clear understanding of how Canada’s health care system operates. They then can assist by answering any questions the clients may have, helping them identify and access the services they need, or even accompanying them to their appointments.
Siffan Rahman, co-ordinator of the program, says that the goal of the program is to not only help newcomers access services, but to also provide them with the skills they need to access these services on their own, without the help of a navigator.
“What makes the program so positive is that our navigators are able to speak the same language as the client so right away they have a level of trust and comfort with the client because they are from the same community,” says Rahman. “It helps make the client feel empowered.”
In addition to one-on-one services, the program also provides information on accessing health care services in areas where new immigrants have been found to gather. Groups have also been established in these areas which meet on a regular basis to participate in healthy activities such as fitness classes.
The program currently services four targeted cultural communities – Arabic speaking, Franco-African, Nepali, and Somali. These communities were chosen because a need for the service in these groups was identified by immigration organizations in Ottawa that work in partnership with the health centre.
“When we hear that there are people who are having trouble accessing our health care services – that’s a concern,” says Chantale LeClerc, CEO of Champlain LHIN, – which provides the nearly $250,000 that funds the program. “If people come to a new country or a new city and they have health issues that are not looked after, it can prevent them from participating in every other aspect of their lives.”
LeClerc added: “We know that some people are afraid to disclose certain aspects of their health for fear of being judged or looked upon negatively in that person’s culture. The navigator will help show them that it’s important to share this type of information to their health care provider so that they can receive the best care possible.”
Despite the program’s success, Rahman says there is more that can be done. According to Rahman, more navigators are needed to meet current demand and to expand to other demographics that may benefit from the services the program provides.
The Multicultural Health Fair will be held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan 31 at the Albion Heatherington Community Centre.