Canada is a country with a population of high cultural and ethnic differences due to a variety of communities that occupy the land. The Truth and Reconciliation commission follows a righteous mission of identifying the scope of issues that Canadian indigenous peoples face and developing strategies to address and resolve them. Call to action are important statements where the negative consequences of colonialism are tackled with a proposed change.
Healthcare is one of the sectors where indigenous people face injustices due to a lack of proper medical attention due to limited access to quality care. Therefore, the one call to action selected for reflection is a CTA number 19, which focuses on cooperation of federal government with Aboriginal peoples in improving health outcomes of indigenous people and eradicating the healthcare injustices (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2022). Issues that negatively impact the indigenous communities include infant mortality, maternal health, mental health issues, life expectancy, and the availability of appropriate health services among others. (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2022). Such a call to action is relevant to adhere to in future nursing practice as my philosophy should be adjusted to meet the objectives of the CTA.
The issues identified in the Call to Action are crucial as the social injustices in healthcare predispose vulnerable populations of indigenous communities to worse healthcare outcomes and higher mortality rates. The existence of such an issue violates the core principles of healthcare, which promote equal distribution of healthcare to all patients. In addition, the Call to Action #19 identifies core agents in the process, which include the federal government and Aboriginal communities. The collaborative approach puts into perspective that health not only depends on the efficiency of the healthcare sector but on other organizations and the government; health policies have to be interlinked with both social and economic policies. The approach ensures providers from varying disciplines come together and work interdependently to cater to the needs of individuals and their families (Kitching et al., 2020). The collaboration also paves the way for health officials to participate in the formulation of health-related policies by the government.
Finally, the cooperation with Aboriginal people ensures that such communities have an opportunity to report the issues and develop culturally appropriate programs to address them. By embracing a strength-based approach that focuses on the positive aspects of Aboriginal peoples’ communities, the quality of healthcare is enhanced as it is more ethical and patient-oriented (Gibson et al. 2020). Such a strategy is more efficient as it promotes health and disease prevention, which is key to improving patient outcomes.
Committing to such a call to action would mean I would seek facilities that embrace the mission of improving indigenous communities’ lives. Closing the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities by reporting requires professional personnel, which I am thriving to be (Hyett et al., 2018). In addition, I would seek facilities that work directly with Aboriginal communities to provide the best quality of healthcare and contribute to eradicating healthcare inequalities. In general, the CTA #19 would have a positive effect on my nursing practice as it will increase my awareness of the issues, and make me seek cultural competence.
In conclusion, the call to action #19 would positively affect Indigenous Health as it focuses directly on improving healthcare outcomes and eradicating the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. In addition, the initiative focuses on long-term strategies, which means gradual improvement and achievement of a diversity of cultures and ethnicity in Canada. Embracing such a call to action means contributing to the protection of basic human rights such as the right to health.
References
Gibson, C., Crockett, J., Dudgeon, P., Bernoth, M., & Lincoln, M. (2020). Sharing and valuing older Aboriginal people’s voices about social and emotional wellbeing services: a strength-based approach for service providers. Aging & Mental Health, 24(3), 481-488.
Hyett, S., Marjerrison, S., & Gabel, C. (2018). Improving health research among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. CMAJ, 190(20), E616-E621.
Kitching, G. T., Firestone, M., Schei, B., Wolfe, S., Bourgeois, C., O’Campo, P.,… & Smylie, J. (2020). Unmet health needs and discrimination by healthcare providers among an Indigenous population in Toronto, Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 40-49.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2022). Call to Action #19. In Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. Web.