New Community Projects Support a Diverse Health Workforce
Halitube, an organization and platform in the Asian community, is one of this year’s recipients of funding from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund. Above, Halitube’s Cultural Artisan Market on the Halifax waterfront last May celebrated cultural performances and entertainment from around the world. (Contributed)
A podcast, magazine and an original TV series are among several new projects that will help welcome and support healthcare workers from different cultural backgrounds as they settle in Nova Scotia communities this year.
Five organizations that focus on supporting diverse healthcare workers will receive funding for those projects and more through the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund.
“Communities are leading the way and doing the work to attract, welcome and integrate healthcare workers into their neighbourhoods and communities,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “There are so many interesting and creative ideas out there to help make our province a magnet for healthcare workers. Through our community fund, we’re supporting projects that have been developed by community to address their unique needs and opportunities.”
The five organizations, their projects and funding amounts are:
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Health Association of African Canadians – $100,000 to create and share a database of healthcare professionals of African descent in Nova Scotia for mentor matching and virtual sharing sessions; and creating a handbook highlighting cultural awareness and adaptation information for Black healthcare professionals looking to practise in Nova Scotia
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Nova Scotia Internationally Educated Nurses – $100,000 for projects that foster a sense of community, support a community practice initiative and welcome team, an education day and community gala
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Halitube Community Network – $75,000 to create a six-part TV series featuring new healthcare professionals in rural Nova Scotia, an annual magazine for new healthcare providers and launch events to celebrate both initiatives
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the Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia – $74,000 for a project that includes networking events in Halifax, Truro and Sydney; support for children and families; and the Voices of Nova Scotia podcast featuring healthcare providers with diverse perspectives
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the Black Nurses Association of Nova Scotia – $67,300 for enhancing Black nurses’ retention through a robust mentorship program with community connections, a bus tour and an honorarium; educational workshops with monthly meetings with speakers on mental wellness; website development and an online platform.
Twenty-five other organizations will receive support through the OHPR Community Fund this year. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The fund, established in 2022, is an action item in Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare. It supports community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives organized by local non-profit organizations, charitable community groups, cultural organizations, member-based organizations and boards, municipalities and chambers of commerce.
Quotes:
“It is an honour to be involved in a project that aims to strengthen our healthcare sector, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to play a critical role in this important initiative. The support and confidence the Department of Health and Wellness has placed in us is not only a source of encouragement but also a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives meaningful change in healthcare.”
— Adegoke Fadare, President, Association of Nigerians in Nova Scotia
“Halitube is excited to profile rural healthcare workers and their lives in Nova Scotia through a new TV series and magazine this year. We couldn’t create these projects without the funding provided.”
— Will Yang, President, Halitube
Quick Facts:
- the OHPR Community Fund supported 28 community-led recruitment and retention initiatives in 2022-23, investing more than $1.5 million into a range of projects, including healthcare worker recognition events, online support tools, marketing videos and even a community garden
Additional Resources:
Fund guidelines and details are available at: https://novascotia.ca/ohpr-community-fund
Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/
Mandate letter for the Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf