Report April – June 2021

Progress Report from FMW Canada

In this pandemic, Canadians have access to and availability of vaccination against COVID19 (for anyone over the age of 12).  Our members have demonstrated dedication and commitment to provision of care for all, working extra hours and days at vaccination clinics across the country. 

Our organization is planning for our upcoming VIRTUAL 97th year AGM and Conference on October 1-2, 2021. It is titled—”A Better Future”; the program will soon be available on our website; we welcome all to attend!!!!

In Canada, there have been two significant discoveries (grave sites) at the time of writing this report at historical Residential Schools for Indigenous Children in different provinces.  The remains of 215 Indigenous children and over 700 Indigenous adults and children respectfully have been found. Our organization is invested in supporting our Indigenous Peoples and is moving forward in fulfilling the intent of “the Truth and Reconciliation” report (http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf).  This long-awaited report was a major milestone of acknowledgement of the abuses our Indigenous Peoples experienced and includes calls to action to address the ongoing impact of residential schools on survivors and their families and a path for systems in moving forward. Please note this statement from our WPS committee supporting the position of our organization: 

On behalf of the WPS committee members, we wholeheartedly support the FMWC statement on indigenous anti-racism and cultural humility and safety. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is an international human rights instrument that affirms the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous peoples throughout the world.

We support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and acknowledge the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action reports. We call upon the federal government to do more than promise action and funding – Reconciliation must be a prominent value and a targeted goal not only for Canada’s government but also for Canadian citizens if meaningful progress towards the completion of the Calls to Action is to be made.

The discovery of a mass grave with the remains of 215 Indigenous children further creates an urgency for all Canadians to acknowledge the horrific past, apologise and grieve with our First Nations sisters and brothers. Indigenous people deserve better lives, better healthcare free of racism – equal to other Canadians.

Finally, the “Cancer Won’t Wait” project, aimed at increasing HPV vaccine continues with efforts to eliminate cervical cancer as a national objective.  The newsletter authored by Drs. Vivien Brown and Christine Palmay is out with one goal aimed to alert us all to pay attention to our 9 – 14 year old patients who have missed potential vaccinations.  Please join the movement!!!