Working together for perinatal health.

The Perinatal Forum II Report is now available here

Northern Health Strategy aims to improve Perinatal Health by promoting breast feeding and establishing a perinatal forum.

• NHS provides administrative support to a Northern Breastfeeding Committee, which is developing a north-wide strategy to promote breastfeeding
• NHS supports the seeking of resources for enhancement of supportive care related to breastfeeding, as well as the provision of peer support training.
• NHS assists broad and active participation in perinatal care by involving elders in perinatal programming and education, using the northern media in showing videos and delivering appropriate perinatal messages, and distributing resources such as a baby log book
• NHS advocates enhancement and improvement of perinatal orientation
• NHS has established a perinatal forum for addressing issues with birthing centres
• NHS assists Northern Health Strategy Working Group partners with developing and implementing sexual health school programming

Alliances and Partnerships

• Victoria Hospital Maternal Child Team meetings
• Breastfeeding Implementation Committee of Saskatchewan
• Midwifery meetings with the Prince Albert Grand Council

History to Date

April 2008
The Perinatal Technical Advisory Committee (PNTAC) met and decided to resubmit their breastfeeding proposal with a stronger message, statistics, and individual letters of support from the RHAs involved.

Plans were made around hosting of a Perinatal forum and research continued into INFACT (Infant Feeding Action Coalition) training.

August 2008
30 northern health professionals earned certificates in Basic Emergency Management, giving them up-to-date skills needed in the case of a disaster or other emergency. The course was prepared by the Canadian Emergency Preparedness College, delivered by the Ministry of Saskatchewan, Protection and Emergency Services, and hosted by the Northern Health Strategy.

October 2008
Sixty healthcare professionals and other concerned citizens of the North met in Prince Albert for the Perinatal Forum, hosted by the PNTAC. This initial forum was facilitated by Flo Frank, an internationally recognized specialist in sustainability and community development. Participants included community members as well as representatives from Kids First North, First Nation communities and Regional Health Authorities.

A “declaration statement” was drafted and a communiqué was sent out on October 21, 2008. The recommendation from the forum participants is to hold a future forum. A second, similar forum is in the planning stages.

Nancy McMahon participated in a Childbirth and Postpartum Associates (CAPPA) Doula training workshop in Saskatoon.

November 2008
Nancy McMahon attended the Canadian Association of Midwifery Conference in Quebec City. She joined the Aboriginal Midwifery Association meeting and presented information from the PNTAC forum. She was also able to meet an Elder and three student midwives from Cambridge Bay.

An Elder’s Forum was held in Prince Albert and Nancy McMahon participated.

December 2008
INFACT (Infant Feeding Action Coalition) Canada Lactation Consultant and Train the Trainer courses held in Prince Albert between December 8t and 12. PNTAC members attending were Colleen Clark (MCRRHA), Barb Flett (Kids First North), Edna Rediron (MLTC) and Nancy McMahon (NHS).

January 2009
Population Health Unit submitted a $112,000 business proposal, for a Breast Feeding Education Coordinator, to Sask Health.

March 2009
INFACT training was held in Prince Albert, hosted by the NHS.