Friday the ‘official’ launch of a new CT scan unit at the Regional Health Centre in the city was held.
There are two aspects to this which are good news stories.
The first is on the health side of things.
Region residents have access to a CT scan which is simply better than the one the old unit it replaced was capable of.
The original unit was a 10 slice CT unit, but a software upgrade brought it up to 16 slice for more detailed scans.
The unit now in place creates 128 slice scans.
The new CT scan is also significantly faster, and is safer because there is “less radiation exposure to patients."
But the other part of the story is just as compelling in its own way.
The new unit had a price tag of $1.2 million.
The province provided $600,000 and the Health Foundation was tasked with raising the rest.
More than 200 businesses and individuals stepped up with contributions of $1,000, or more.
But some quick math tells us that was still not the $600,000 needed. It was raised through hundreds of other people and businesses contributing what they could to fund a piece of equipment they collectively see as a needed health asset in the region.
It’s not the first time people have supported the Health Foundation’s efforts to raise money to fill holes in the local health care system.
It stands to reason the province will not fund every desire a region may have in terms of equipment and services.
But it also stands to reason they should be on-side with local efforts to add those services, or the new equipment.
That has generally been the case, and locally people have been supportive of a range of projects including the new CT scanner.
Of course people being supportive of good causes is not exactly a surprise in Saskatchewan, or Canada.
This province is home to Telemiracle, a telethon that has raised some $120 million in its 40-year history, making it one of the most successful fundraisers of its kind in the world.
And now we have the tragic situation of a massive forest fire displacing tens of thousands from their homes in Fort McMurray, AB. Many forced to evacuate will not have homes to return to because they have been razed by fire.
The extent of the loss will not be known for months, not until the fire threat passes, and investigators and clean-up crews begin the work of assessing loss, and figuring out what to do next.
That is the point at which governments, federal and provincial, will be stepping up no doubt. Governments are best focused on programs which can be allocated through a structured process.
In the interim, as the crisis takes place, organizations such as the Red Cross step to the forefront, with the generous support of Canadians. Reports already have the Red Cross having received some $54 million for Fort McMurray relief as of Monday.
That is because people across the nation are rallying—from poutine suppers in Yorkton, to concerts in the Maritimes—to help other Canadians as best they can.
And the latest total does not include matching funds promised by the provincial and federal governments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that Ottawa will match individual donations to the Red Cross up to May 31, without a cap.
Giving to good causes might be as Canadian a thing to do as there is.
