Provincial health officer declares public health emergency due to rise in overdoses
A significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths has prompted provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall to declare a public health emergency. This is the first time the provincial health officer has served notice under the Public Health Act to exercise emergency powers. B.C. is the first province to take this...
First detection of deadly bat disease on West Coast concerns BC
A report confirmed last month by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that White-Nose Syndrome had been detected on a dead bat near Seattle is very worrisome for the health of bat populations in British Columbia said Juliet Craig, Coordinator of the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP) and BC Community Bat Program....
Local man speaks out about Parkinson's Disease and upcoming fundraiser
April is Parkinson's Awareness month. I would like share my story with you to hopefully help bring a better understanding of what it is like to have Parkinson's Disease. In April or May of 2013, I noticed a couple of things with my left hand/arm which didn't seem normal. I noticed my left arm didn't swing normal when I walked....
Kootenay Boundary to get eight new substance use treatment beds
An additional 73 substance use treatment beds are on their way to communities throughout Interior Health (IH). The new beds are part of IH’s plan to meet the Province’s 500 Substance Use Spaces Initiative and will support and enhance existing substance use treatment services across IH. “These new beds for Interior Health are...
Tick season is upon us
The early spring weather means many of us are spending more time outside. We aren’t the only ones enjoying the unseasonable warmth - the change in weather also brings out ticks – small bugs that feed on the blood of humans and animals and can sometimes transmit disease. Ticks are most often found in tall grass and wooded...
BC Lung Association steps up to offer short-term radon testing
The BC Lung Association has partnered with Radon Environmental Management Corp to provide a faster way to find out if your home, school or workplace has potentially unhealthy indoor radon levels, the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. “Waiting for months to find out if your home, school or workplace’s indoor radon...
IHA wrings out Nelson laundry service and prepares to cut 29 jobs in the city
The fate of Kootenay Lake Hospital’s laundry services has all come out in the wash. On Tuesday afternoon the Interior Health Authority (IHA) has elected to contract out hospital laundry services for Nelson and four other communities, meaning 29 job losses in the city. Interior Health’s board of directors and the health authority...
Interior Health issues bulletin after seeing an increase in drug overdose trend
Interior Health has issued an information bulletin after seeing an increasing drug overdose trend in communities within the region — including Nelson, Trail and Cranbrook. IH officials and ANKORS said the bulletin is to raise public awareness about the opioid drug use, particularly in light of recent fatal and non-fatal...
ICBC to launch organ donation pilot program
ICBC is launching a pilot program beginning Tuesday (March 1st), in partnership with BC Transplant, to help increase the number of people who register their decision on organ donation. Fifty per cent of British Columbians believe they have registered a decision on organ donation but, in fact, only 20 per cent have. For this...
HEU stages rally in Nelson Monday ahead of IH laundry decision
Local Hospital Employees Union workers in Nelson are joining fellow members from other communities in the province as part of the Leap for Local Laundry rally Monday (February 29) in front of the courthouse on the corner of Vernon and Ward Streets. The day of action happens in the BC Interior as the HEU brings attention to ...
