Celebrating More Than 50 Years of Community-Centered Health Care at NECHC
Duration: 7 minutes and 22 seconds
Video Description: Join us as we explore the rich history and impactful work of the North End Community Health Centre (NECHC) in Halifax. From its humble beginnings in 1971 to its current role as a cornerstone of community health, this video highlights the dedication and innovation of NECHC’s team.
This video chronicles the evolution of the North End Community Health Centre (NECHC) in Halifax from a single-room clinic in 1971 to a comprehensive community health hub. Through interviews with staff members, including a social worker, community health nurse, and dietitian, the video highlights NECHC’s community-driven origins, its collaborative and respectful approach to care, and the diverse services it offers. The video also features the Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) program, emphasizing NECHC’s outreach to marginalized populations. As NECHC continues to grow, with plans for a new facility to accommodate expanding programs and patient numbers, the video celebrates its enduring impact and vision for the future.
Transcript:
0:00 – 0:28 Narrator: “In 1971, the clinic, as it was then known, was situated across the street in one room. It was so successful that it just took more things.”
0:29 – 1:05 Narrator: “The one with Dr. Ken, I think the community really welcomed it, and it grew quickly because people lapped it up. In the beginning, they didn’t have anything in their own community. There were no doctor’s offices or very few of them, so the community was entirely supportive. The origins lie with the community. My health center wasn’t started by health care workers; it was started by the community, and because of that, we’re always very conscious of responding to the community needs.”
1:06 – 1:53 Narrator: “We have not a very traditional medical model behind me, and I have appointments. We have a whole team of providers that include social workers, nutritionists, nurse practitioners, physicians, and nurses. We work very collaboratively as a team to meet the needs of our clients.”
1:54 – 2:59 Clara: “My name is Clara. I’ve been a social worker here at the health center for 29 years now. I started in 1981. We certainly are unique and have autonomy from the general delivery of health care through the province. We can challenge the system in ways that people inside the civil service are much more challenged to do.”
Rose Fraser: “Hi, I’m Rose Fraser. I’ve been a community health nurse here at the North End Community Health Centre for 20 years. A lot of our clients are people who have not felt very trusting of the health care system because they’ve had concerns and issues in the past. It often is a challenge to break down or get past those barriers. The way we approach that most commonly is through respect—respecting the individual and where they are.”
3:00 – 4:04 Patty Melanson: “My name is Patty Melanson, and I run the Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) program. We work with people who are homeless, living in shelters, or whose lives are challenged because of addiction and health issues. Their stories are full of sometimes great tragedy and sometimes joy.”
4:05 – 5:04 Dietitian: “I’m Dressage Olimar, a dietitian at the North End Community Health Centre. I’m also leading the community garden. The garden grew out of a need to connect more with the community. It gets people excited about what’s going on in the garden, and it’s a great way to engage with the community.”
5:05 – 6:02 Narrator: “This is the building we’ve occupied for a long time now, and we’re busting at the seams. We need more space because the number of clients we see is growing. We’ve had over 400 new patients this year alone. Our new space will allow our dietitian to run nutrition programs in a bigger space designed for cooking food.”
6:03 – 7:22 Narrator: “Looking ahead, it’s an exciting time for us. We have a new facility that will allow us to realize some of the programs we want to do. It’s about authentic engagement with people. I feel honored to work with the people I do. They inspire me every day. Our journey is towards better health for the community and making this model better known in the country. It has been an incredible journey, and who would have predicted this 40 years ago?”
The video ends with scenes of staff and community members interacting positively, showcasing the vibrant and supportive atmosphere at NECHC.
