​On World Environmental Day, the FNHA promotes resilience through risk-reduction, mitigation and adaptation​

A message from Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi, Medical Officer, Public Health, Office of the Chief Medical Officer; and Casey Neathway, FNHA Regional Director, Health Emergency Management and National President of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors​​​​

World Environmental Health Day held on September 26 every year, is a good time to talk about how our health is connected to our environment, and how good environmental health is important for keeping communities strong.

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) help First Nations communities in British Columbia (BC) protect their health and keep their communities strong in a number of ways.  

In addition to checking air and water quality, EHOs help make sure that food is safe and that handling of waste is done properly. They help with health emergencies and give advice and guidance to help communities stay safe, prepare, and be ready for emergencies such as floods and forest fires.

The FNHA's plan for keeping the environment healthy also includes helping First Nations communities deal with and recover from emergencies related to climate change. FNHA EHOs work with community leaders, health workers, and provincial partners to share ideas and make plans that fit each community's needs and priorities. Their work draws upon internationally recognized emergency planning, like the United Nations' plan for reducing disaster risks.

The FNHA will continue working to get better at helping improve environmental health in BC First Nations communities. We use both traditional knowledge and other health strategies to make sure solutions work well and align with each First Nations community's needs and culture.

One example is the FNHA Environmental Public Health team's work with Lytton First Nation and partners to ensure access to clean, safe, and reliable tap water after the devastating 2021 forest fires. This work highlighted the FNHA's commitment to working with First Nations to achieve their environmental public health goals.

Another example is the FNHA's Environmental Health Emergency Management team's work with the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health to complete a community-driven research project on the impacts of climate change on food safety. This work was done in response to specific environmental health concerns brought forward by First Nations communities regarding how climate change is impacting their food safety and their traditional food practices.

By working together to support BC First Nations communities with their environmental health challenges, the FNHA is helping make sure these communities stay strong.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/environmental-health/health-emergency-management ​