Primary health care clinics in Beausejour, Whitemouth and Pine Falls have welcomed new physicians who are all accepting patients.

“Interlake-Eastern RHA has been working hard to recruit physicians to communities across the region, and that work is paying off,” says vice president medical services and chief medical officer Dr. Scott Gregoire. “These additional doctors will benefit families in the eastern part of the region by ensuring they receive consistent and reliable health care, in their own communities.”

Beausejour

Beausejour primary care doctors from left to right: Dr. Shiva Shrestha, Dr. Nadia Parvez, Dr. Nazukjit Nijjar and Dr. Roque Nepomuceno.

Dr. George Gerges is also new to Beausejour Primary Health Care Clinic, as of this summer.

The new doctors will join the existing Beausejour physician group of Drs. Van Rensburg, Awopetu, and Tanner, and Nurse Practitioner Hessie Sookermany-Leoppky.

Call Beausejour Primary Health Care Clinic at 204-268-4966 to schedule an appointment with the following physicians: Dr. Gerges, Dr. Nepomuceno, Dr. Shrestha, Dr. Nijjar, or Dr. Parvez. Call Beausejour HEW Primary Care Clinic at 204-268-2288 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Awopetu who is also accepting new patients.

Whitemouth

Dr. Shiva Shrestha will also be joining existing Nurse Practitioner Derek Edwards at Whitemouth Primary Health Care Clinic.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shrestha in Whitemouth call 204-348-2291.

Pine Falls

Dr. Behnaz Soltani and Dr. Ahmed Waheed are accepting patients at Pine Falls Primary Health Care Clinic.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Soltani or Dr. Waheed in Pine Falls call 204-367-2278

Family Doctor Finder can help anyone in Manitoba find a home clinic that can meet their needs. Register online (https://forms.gov.mb.ca/family-doctor-finder/) or call 1-866-690-8260 to begin the process.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced plans to move from a nationwide strike to rotating strikes effective Saturday, Oct. 11.

While we continue to monitor the ongoing labour situation, effective Wednesday, Oct. 15, the provincial health system will resume using Canada Post for non-urgent items only.

Clinics and service areas will resume the use of Canada Post for distribution of patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information that is NOT considered to be urgent or time sensitive. 

Packages, supplies and urgent appointment letters to patients will continue using alternative services.

Patients with upcoming clinic appointments at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg may continue to receive their appointment confirmation by text message. The text messages, which will originate from a Manitoba 431 phone number, will not include patient information and will only identify the facility, date and time of the scheduled appointment. Messages will include the clinic phone number in the event patients wish to confirm their appointment by phone.

Patients will not be asked to disclose financial information over the phone or via email and should not engage with anyone who says they require financial information before a health appointment. If patients have questions about the legitimacy of a call, they are encouraged to contact their clinic or care provider directly.

The IERHA’s Annual Immunization Clinics begin Oct. 21, 2025.

Interlake-Eastern RHA annual general meeting attracts over 124 participants

Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority’s virtual annual general meeting on Oct. 6 saw 124 staff and community members login virtually to hear the region’s planned activities and a summary of the past year.

Cyndi Typliski, vice chair of the board of directors, was the master of ceremonies. Speakers included board chair Michele Polinuk, Dr. Tim Hilderman, medical officer of health for Interlake-Eastern RHA, Lorianne Kowaliszyn, IERHA’s executive  lead of corporate services and chief financial officer and chief executive officer, Marion Ellis.

A recording of IERHA’s AGM and the IERHA 2024-2025 Annual Report document can be accessed at www.ierha.ca under “About us” and “Annual General Meeting”.

As part of the investment in Ashern’s hospital, there will be short intermittent power outages at the hospital, clinic and personal care home to upgrade the electrical system from Oct. 3 evening to Oct. 5 evening.

The new inpatient unit is not impacted, and normal community services are generally unaffected. A generator is being utilized to ensure direct non-emergency care, including personal care home, dialysis and kitchen/laundry services remain available.

Emergency Department – Change in Service Oct. 3-6

Individuals experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 or attend emergency departments in Eriksdale or Selkirk during installation of these upgrades.

Check emergency department schedules here: Emergency Department Schedules

Emergency department services will resume at Ashern Lakeshore Hospital on Tuesday. Oct. 7.

A message from the IERHA Indigenous Health team

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a vital time to reflect on the history and lasting impacts of residential schools and colonial policies on Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and to honour Survivors, their families, and communities. For those of us working in healthcare, this day carries deep significance. The documented inequities in access to healthcare experienced by Indigenous peoples – even within Canada’s publicly funded system – are a direct result of this history. In Manitoba, health inequities between First Nations and other Manitobans have actually widened since 2002. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, particularly Call to Action #18 (acknowledging the direct harms of Canadian policies) and #19 (establishing measurable goals to close health outcome gaps), remind us that reconciliation is not just about remembering the past – it’s about transforming systems today to ensure culturally safe, equitable care and achieve equity of outcomes for Indigenous Peoples.

At Interlake-Eastern RHA, we are deeply committed to this work, understanding that reconciliation requires meaningful, system-wide change. Reconciliation in healthcare means listening to Indigenous voices and knowledge keepers, actively learning from traditional knowledge and healing practices, and comprehensively addressing systemic racism and jurisdictional discrimination that contribute to health inequities. This commitment is reflected in our ongoing efforts to have a representative workforce, build Indigenous health services, and grow cultural competency across our region. On this day and every day, let’s take time to learn, reflect, and actively dismantle racism, and take action toward creating a healthcare system rooted in respect, understanding, and true partnerships for the people and communities we serve.

Achieving culturally safe and equitable care also requires continuous self-reflection at the individual level. It is important to acknowledge that racism and discrimination, although rooted in structural factors, are also experienced at the individual level and profoundly impact patient trust and access to care.

We all have a responsibility to recognize and respond to discrimination and racism. This means consciously challenging our own biases, assumptions, and privileges, and understanding that fostering respectful, trusting relationships is fundamental to transforming healthcare.

Young local artists are being recognized for their thoughtful artwork in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

Youth in grades 5 to 12 entered a contest launched by Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority to design artwork for this important national recognition day, which honours survivors of residential schools and children who never returned home.

Health authority staff and select community partners reviewed 49 submissions from across the region and selected three winning entries.

Winning submissions were created by Kiana (age 16) from Fisher Branch, Baby Harmony (age 15) from Dauphin River First Nation, (age 13) from Oakbank. Their designs are available for download by IERHA staff and public to use as backgrounds for computer desktops, cellphones and virtual meetings here: NDTR Artwork – Download Page – Interlake-Eastern RHA

Kiana’s poster depicts an image of child with a red handprint stamped over the face with cultural images of animals surrounding the child.

“As a Métis, I made this artwork after reading a book in history class about a person that went to residential school. I made her hair short because they cut her hair and also included the seven teachings,” Kiana wrote in her artist’s statement.

The artwork by Ellia shows a dreamcatcher with the words “truth and reconciliation” surrounding it.

“I chose to include a feather and use of the colour orange to honour Indigenous people on Sept. 30,” Ellia said.

Baby Harmony’s artwork depicted a sun, orange handprint, orange ribbon, school building, trees and the following words: “They call it a school but it was the place for stolen children, stolen voices. The handprint is what is left and what it still speaks. Truth first, then reconciliation.”

Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a vital time to reflect on the history and lasting impacts of residential schools and colonial policies on Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and to honour Survivors, their families and communities.

Adam Sanderson, Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority’s director of Indigenous Health, shares what Sept. 30 means to the Indigenous Health program and the regional health authority.

“We commend these young artists on their interpretation of reconciliation through their artwork. On this day and every day, let’s take time to learn, reflect and actively respond to racism and take action toward creating a health-care system rooted in respect, understanding and true partnership for the communities we serve,” he said.

In honour of this day, all IERHA clinics and laboratories will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 30. The ten hospitals in Interlake-Eastern RHA will be flying survivors flags and the Canadian flag must be removed as flag protocol dictates it is improper to fly the National Flag with another flag, of any type, on the same flagpole. Facilities without flag poles are identifying other ways to mount the flag so it is visible to people entering the facility. The flag will remain flying until Wednesday, October 1^st.

Winning artwork completed by local 13 year old Ellia of Oakbank.

Artwork contest winner Kiana from Fisher Branch holds up her winning artwork inside Fisher Branch Collegiate.

Artwork contest winner Baby Harmony is pictured outside Dauphin River School with her winning artwork and cheque.

The Manitoba government is expanding the pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis program to include all infants born during the RSV season, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“Every parent wants their baby to have the healthiest possible start in life,” said Asagwara. “RSV can be serious, but it’s preventable – and now we’re making it easier for families to protect their newborns. Starting this October, Manitoba parents will have access to a new preventive option that helps shield infants from RSV, giving them a stronger, safer beginning.”

Currently, newborns born at any time of the year, who meet certain high-risk eligibility criteria can receive an RSV antibody called nirsevimab during respiratory virus season. Manitoba is expanding the program to include all infants born within RSV’s circulation season, between Oct. 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, regardless of clinical criteria, the minister noted.

Nirsevimab reduces the likelihood of severe illness. Approximately five per cent of healthy infants and young children hospitalized with RSV require ICU admission, increasing to 10 per cent for those with other health conditions. In Manitoba, RSV season typically runs from November to March and accounts for 10 to 20 per cent of respiratory tract infections in infants requiring medical attention.

Previously, Manitoba used palivizumab, which required multiple doses depending on when the child was born. Nirsevimab only requires one dose. Infants born between Oct. 1 and March 31 can receive a single dose of nirsevimab prior to discharge from hospital. Those who missed their dose before discharge will be able to access it through local public health offices, nursing stations and other designated locations.

For more information about respiratory syncytial virus, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/rsv.html.

The Selkirk QuickCare Clinic provides same day services by appointment.

You can book an appointment online at medinav.ca (Be sure to use www.medinav.ca when booking your appointment – if your account does not work you may have created your account using a url that was incorrectly posted and you will need to recreate your account again).

• book after midnight for an appointment later that day
• If appointments online are filled, call 204-482-4399 to inquire on available appointments.

or call 204-482-4399 for an appointment starting at 9:30 am.

Manitobans can now book same-day appointments for the Selkirk and Steinbach QuickCare clinics through the Medinav portal as well as search for convenient appointments at other participating clinics across the province, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“Medinav makes it easier for Manitobans to book an appointment when and where it works for them,” said Asagwara. “That means getting care sooner and keeping emergency and urgent care for those who need it most. This is about making the health system more accessible and responsive, and today we are taking another step forward with online booking for QuickCare clinics in Selkirk and Steinbach.”

Medinav is an online appointment booking system that allows Manitobans to view same-day and next-day appointments available at participating clinics and choose the most suitable option. The portal enables online booking at:

• walk-in connected care clinics;
• extended hours primary care clinics, including the newly opened clinic at St. Boniface Hospital;
• minor injury and illness clinics at Misericordia Health Centre and in Brandon;
• the Pan Am minor injury clinic; and
• QuickCare clinics in Selkirk and Steinbach.

To book an appointment or view clinic hours, visit https://medinav.ca/.

Manitoba Ends State of Emergency

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Emergency Management Organization is advising the provincewide state of emergency under the Emergency Measures Act will expire today and is not being extended.

The state of emergency was first declared on July 10 and extended on Aug. 7 under powers set out in sections 10(1) and 10(2) of the Emergency Measures Act. It expired at noon today.

Evacuation orders set by local authorities remain in place until it is deemed safe to return.

For information on the status and location of active wildfires, fire restrictions and bans, evacuations, and how to help prevent wildfires, visit https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/index.html.

Visit the provincial web page for more information: Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Measles Update