The Melfort Heliport received Transport Canada approval in November 2020. (File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Hope and the Future

Hope and the Future: NCHCF takes positives from 2020, looking for more normalcy in 2021

Dec 24, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic makes 2020 a year many may prefer to forget but there is hope for the future. We’ve decided to make that the focus of our series of end-of-year stories.

Even outside of the current global pandemic, it was a busy, and successful year for the North Central Health Care Foundation (NCHCF).

Chair Peggy George said going into 2021, they want to continue seeing health care in the region progress upwards. However, she said looking back, the foundation got lots done in 2020. George highlighted the heliport as arguably the biggest accomplishment of the year for the foundation.

The heliport fundraising campaign was launched in January and while COVID-19 caused a bit of a delay in fundraising efforts, the project did receive Transport Canada approval in November.

Meanwhile, due to COVID-19, the NCHCF had to temporarily close the doors to its gift shop in the Melfort Hospital in March. That closure gave the foundation the opportunity to help staff at Parkland Place in Melfort and provide some of the confectionary for a ‘treat cart’. The NCHCF gift shop has since reopened for the time being at the Historic Post Office.

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George told northeastNOW, looking ahead to 2021, COVID-19 vaccines are the top of mind and getting those to residents of Saskatchewan.

“Hopefully we can return to a healthier society,” George said. “And back to a normal that we used to experience, it may be a new normal.”

She also gave credit to the health care workers who have been battling the pandemic.

As the calendar turns to 2021, George said we all need to continue sticking together.

“Let’s all be safe, let’s all be kind, be humble,” she said. “Look after one another.”

There is about $80,000 worth of projects and equipment that George said the NCHCF has committed to for 2021, and she encourages people to donate to help continue enhancing health care in the north east region.

Humboldt District Hospital Foundation

The Humboldt and District Hospital Foundation (HDHF) is looking forward to a positive 2021 as well.

The foundation recently received a $100,000 donation from the Good Neighbour Store in Humboldt. Executive Director Lorrie Bunko told northeastNOW in an interview earlier this month that the foundation is still working through its commitment list, but some items could bring a new service to the area.

In 2020, HDHF was able to install PIXYS, which is an automated medication management system at the Humboldt District Hospital worth $404,000. HDHF is also continuing fundraising for new cardiac equipment.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6