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Northern Health is inviting community groups and associations in Prince George to join a new network for information-sharing, aimed at improving the flow of health information and announcements in the community. 

Community Health Allies (or “CHAllies”) is an initiative of the Northern Interior Medical Health Office. CHAllies is a voluntary network of associations and groups who will receive and share health information for the benefit of their community. Northern Health will electronically distribute pertinent health information to member group representatives, who in turn may send questions and comments directly back to the Medical Health Officer via email. 

“The CHAllies concept is aimed at keeping communities abreast of health programs and information at a personal, or ‘in-box’ level,” said Dr. William Osei, Northern Health’s Medical Health Officer for the Northern Interior region. “This is in keeping with Northern Health’s overall goal of providing exceptional health services in partnership with communities and organizations.” 

Examples of health information that would be shared include announcements and information on vaccination schedules and vaccine eligibility, health alerts around pandemics or disease outbreaks, and advisories on air and drinking water quality, and food safety. 

CHAllies membership is open to a variety of groups, including local and regional government agencies, non-profit and/or non-governmental organizations that contribute to the wellness and health status of their community. First Nations community groups or band councils, religious and social groups, are just some of the associations that CHAllies hopes to include. 

Invitations are currently being extended to would-be CHAllies members in the Prince George area. Plans are also being developed to establish CHAllies chapters in communities across Northern BC.