The Meno Ya Win Health Center in Sioux Lookout has launched a campaign to fund an MRI.
The campaign was launched on Friday and has a target of $5.5 million.
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine is expected to cost $7 million to install and buy the necessary equipment, but Meno Ya Win says it already has access to $1.5 million.
Christine Hoey is chair of the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Center Foundation and hopes residents across the region donate to their campaign.
“We want to have the MRI operational as soon as possible, so we will be reaching out to the community and all the areas we service to help us reach our goal.”
As many as 40 thousand people in the area are expected to benefit from the MRI.
Arianna Kitching is the Diagnostic Imaging Manager and says the MRI is badly needed.
“Members of Sioux Lookout and surrounding communities face numerous barriers when trying to access equitable health care in Canada. By obtaining an MRI scanner, we minimize some of these barriers, such as improving access to specialized and essential imaging services, reducing financial burden to travel, and reducing the distances for clients to travel.
Currently there is a waiting list of 1,500 patients waiting for an MRI in either Winnipeg or Thunder Bay.
The operation of the MRI will be covered by base funding from Ontario Health Northwest.
(Photo submitted)
