It’s been a busy time at the Victoria Community Health Co-op! We’ve held an Open House as well as influenza and Covid-19 vaccination clinics in co-operation with our friends at the Cook Street Rexall Pharmacy. Our Registered Nurses have met with, and helped, many of our 300 patients.
Our visitors and patients have enjoyed meeting with our staff and volunteers and exploring our new location in Cook Street Village, 200-1075 Pendergast Street, above the Starbucks. Our exam/treatment rooms in the new clinic are bright and welcoming – an excellent environment for our Registered Nurses and for other practitioners to share space. These include Alex, a clinical counsellor, and soon another wellness practitioner will be joining us – watch for next month’s news!
Health First. For us, the ideal scenario is to enable our members, patients and all in the community to enjoy optimal health, as described by the World Health Organization. The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” It links health to well-being, a human right requiring physical and social resources to achieve and maintain. “Well-being” refers to a positive rather than a neutral state – a positive aspiration.
To promote health in our community, we encourage all to take care not to put themselves or others at risk of spreading Covid-19, ‘flu etc. Please help by wearing a mask, frequent hand-washing, and staying home if unwell. We are often asked, “Who should contact the Co-op about seeing one of the Registered Nurses?” One obvious answer is that if you live in the southern part of Victoria (but there is no firm geographic limit) and have no primary health care or medical care, contacting us certainly makes sense. And even if you do have a doctor or nurse practitioner but need attention that is better provided by an RN, call us. Most MDs and NPs who have long wait lists are happy when people match their choice of health professionals with their needs. Your BC Care Card covers these services. Although we are always happy when our patients join the Co-op, this is not a requirement for access to the RNs. To book an appointment, contact our Medical Office Assistant, vichealthcoopRN@gmail.com or call 250-857-3572 between 9am-12pm and 1-4pm Monday – Friday.
We, the Board, member-owners, volunteers, practitioners and all who participate in the work of the Victoria Health Co-op want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who makes our work possible. We especially want to thank UVic’s Community Engaged Learning program for giving us access to the enthusiasm and skills of Sascha and Addison, who are providing us with their expertise and help with research, metrics and preparing an educational video about the Co-op. Many thanks. Our sister organization, Creating Community Wellness Society (CCWS), also sends its thanks.
The Boards of Victoria Health Co-op and Creating Community Wellness Society wish you and your family and friends the happiest and healthiest of holidays and a very bright 2023. We are sending a big thank you to our volunteers, advocates and supporters – we look forward to working together in the New Year!
Yours Co-operatively,
Victoria Community Health Co-operative