The FNHA is pleased to share the latest Annual Report of the Tripartite Committee on First Nations Health (TCFNH), which covers April 2020 to March 2021. The Annual Report describes and celebrates the remarkable achievements of regional and community partners who have been instrumental in driving TCFNH strategic priorities, including:
- COVID-19 Pandemic Response
- Cultural Safety and Humility, and Anti-Racism
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Virtual Care
- The Toxic Drug Supply and Overdose Public Health Emergency
- Primary Health Care
- Joint First Nations Health Authority/Ministry of Health Project Board
Established in 2011 as part of the BC Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance (the Framework Agreement), the TCFNH includes representatives from the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada and the First Nations Health Authority. The TCFNH works to improve the planning, delivery and evaluation of health services for First Nations in BC.
Report Highlights
Fiscal year 2020/2021 was an extraordinary year that required the tripartite partners to respond to and mitigate the impacts of two public health emergencies in BC while also addressing wildfires and other crises. The tripartite partners worked with other health system partners and First Nations communities to support community needs, including providing funding for response efforts; prioritizing immunization for rural and remote First Nations communities and communities with high numbers of positive cases; and sharing information to make informed decisions for travel and safety measures.
Partnership work also focused on addressing anti-Indigenous racism and embedding cultural safety and humility across the health system. Significant progress was made toward the development of a cultural safety and humility accreditation standard with the Health Standards Organization.
Mental health and wellness remains a high priority; thus we put significant emphasis on strengthening our partnerships and advancing First Nations interests in this space. The Tripartite Partnership to Improve Mental Health and Wellness Services and Achieve Progress on the Determinants of Health and Wellness (MHW MOU) continues to support First Nations to design, plan, and deliver mental health and wellness services and supports through flexible funding to meet the needs and priorities of Nations and communities.
