Pubdate: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/crack+pipes VIHA FAILS NANAIMO, BUT CLINIC STILL NEEDED Residents of the Old City Quarter are getting a health clinic that includes a needle exchange on Franklyn Street whether they like it or not. This issue is not about the clinic itself. No one, since this issue first came to light earlier this month, has raised an objection to the clinic itself. We all acknowledge and agree on the importance of providing health care to those people on the street and managing contagious diseases. Where this process goes wrong is on the lack of consultation by the Vancouver Island Health Authority. According to Mayor John Ruttan VIHA admitted during a meeting on Monday they failed on that count. It would seem that Howard Waldner, senior executives and board members haven't heard the old saying that it's easier to ask permission than to beg for forgiveness. While the Old City Quarter and others vow to fight on against the clinic relocating to Franklyn Street, it cannot be stressed how important it is for them to also face the reality that emerged from Monday's meeting between the city and VIHA. Whether it's seen as good co-operation between two levels of government or VIHA ramming this move down the city's collective throat is not important. Ruttan said there was no way to oppose the clinic. Even as various parties may be seeking ways to stop the clinic, now is also the time to get involved with negotiating a Good Neighbour Agreement with VIHA and the contractor running the clinic, the Nanaimo and Area Resource Services for Families. By not participating they will have no opportunity to outline their concerns and seek to have them addressed. The Cavan Street location revealed that the health clinic brought some very real and disturbing problems with it, and if VIHA and NARSF are going to be good to their word about doing all they can to maintain solutions they need involvement -- not opposition -- from neighbours. The longer term concern remains the apparent dysfunction among VIHA senior managers when it comes to dealing with the public. If the public has a sense that they see VIHA as more important than the people it serves then they've earned it. After the mess in 2007, when they just started handing out crack pipes on the street, VIHA agreed to carry out consultation, with the city council and effected neighbourhoods. Now that VIHA has failed to honour that agreement the only thing more disturbing is there is no accountability. An elected official who tried to act in the public interest, MLA Ron Cantelon, only ended up being vilified by VIHA's board chairman, Jack Kreut. Given that Kreut is from Nanaimo, and that VIHA now has an abysmal track record on how it has treated this community, Kreut should consider resigning in an effort to restore some credibility to this poorly run health authority. While it may be true that no one may want such a facility as a health clinic that works with drug addicts in their neighbourhood, it's also true that there are definite ways to bring such facilities in a community with minimal problems. One such way is by being up front and transparent. Telling people before, giving them an opportunity to give their views. Why VIHA either can't figure this out or just do it if they know how is a mystery. Then again, this is an organization that has for several years been grappling with problems in its communications department. And the experience of Nanaimo residents seems to reflect that inability to undertake the most basic task of talking to people. What remains is positive, though now seen in a negative light. People on the street badly in need of health care will continue to get it. But because VIHA has mishandled communicating this effectively, those who live and work in the area are only deeply resentful. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake