ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not only humans who lack access to proper medical care in the North.

Pets are left without any means of access to examinations, diagnoses and treatment in most remote communities, which sometimes ends in heartbreak.

Vets Without Borders has been attempting to change that since 2019, when a pilot program was launched across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to address animal needs.

SA国际影视传媒淚 led that,SA国际影视传媒� says veterinarian Dr. Michelle Tuma, who comes from Yellowknife, SA国际影视传媒渁nd in 2022 we [formally] operationalized.SA国际影视传媒�

Long-term funding came from non-profit organization Veterinarians Without Borders. By 2023, the three community partners the program started off with had grown to 11.

After the success of the initial launch, Veterinarians Without Borders has partnered with PetSmart Charities of Canada and Animal HealthLink and initiated the one-year telehealth program.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e so excited to be part of this programSA国际影视传媒� the first ever of its kind dedicated to Northern Canada,SA国际影视传媒� says Laura Eley, communications officer for Veterinarians Without Borders.

The initiative will serve remote communities across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut that lack access to veterinary care. Launching as a pilot program in three communitiesSA国际影视传媒� Gjoa Haven, Tuktoyaktuk and Kugluktuk SA国际影视传媒� it will provide pets and their guardians access to registered veterinary technologists who can provide veterinary information and advice and triage calls to veterinarians.

The main goal of the pilot program is to SA国际影视传媒渙ffer temporary veterinary clinics to community partners,SA国际影视传媒� said Tuma. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, we are building access to sustainable veterinary care when vets are outside of communities.SA国际影视传媒�

In general, the program is designed to SA国际影视传媒渨ork alongside the communities to initially identify and address their prioritiesSA国际影视传媒� a lot of our initiatives are community-led and we have community liaisons to support the program and bring awareness and support,SA国际影视传媒� explains Tuma. SA国际影视传媒淭he telehealth program was developed as a way to bring access to veterinary care customized to the Northern landscape so that animal guardians can have some sort of vet care even when our temporary vets arenSA国际影视传媒檛 in the community.SA国际影视传媒�

How it works

The program launched on March 7. Community members will be given a number for an around-the-clock hotline, where they will be put through to a registered veterinary technologist to relay any animal health concern or for any immediate need SA国际影视传媒渢o support and careSA国际影视传媒� for their pet.

After the initial call, a vet affiliated with VWB will receive a follow-up report, and then proceed with any required additional care, such as medication prescription or dispensing advice.

Tuma noted that all the phone line operators have received Northern-specific training.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have customized algorithms and protocols for Northern scenarios,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want to be able to give as much advice and support as possible to the animal owner during that call.SA国际影视传媒�

For those living in the communities with the program, Tuma asks them to check their local community Facebook groups and keep eyes peeled around town for announcements.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping this is going to improve access to sustainable care,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲ith a lot of success, we can expand the framework of other organizations to improve [access to animal health care]SA国际影视传媒� it takes a lot [of work] to create programming and sustain framework. We realize how important our community partners and relationships areSA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淒ue to the remote nature of Northern communities and the low number of veterinary professionals in the North, providing veterinary care can be extremely challenging,SA国际影视传媒� said Tuma. SA国际影视传媒淭here are scenarios with animals in distress that with the proper instruction and human intervention can save the animalSA国际影视传媒檚 life. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 our hope with this telehealth program SA国际影视传媒� that it will help strengthen animal health capacity and give pet guardians and their animals the opportunity to swiftly and effectively treat injuries and illnesses.SA国际影视传媒�