A community-driven initiative in central Alberta is working to raise funds to replace outdated acute care beds at the local health center. Residents of Innisfail, located approximately 30 kilometers south of Red Deer, established a fundraising committee a year ago with the goal of replacing 28 beds at the Innisfail Health Centre. Each bed carries a price tag ranging from $12,000 to $18,000.
Leslie-Ann Epp, a member of the committee, emphasized the urgency of the situation due to insufficient funding for the replacement of all 28 beds. Epp shared that healthcare staff expressed preference for older beds over the malfunctioning ones currently in use. The grassroots efforts have successfully secured funds for 11 new beds, with contributions from AHS and the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation.
While approximately $180,000 has been raised, there is still a substantial amount of fundraising required to acquire the remaining 17 beds, with the group aiming to reach their target of $295,000. John Strong, the executive director of the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation, highlighted the reliance on community efforts to bridge funding gaps for essential equipment in rural healthcare facilities.
Alberta Health Services expressed gratitude towards the fundraising committee’s endeavors, emphasizing the vital role of philanthropic support in complementing government funding. Dr. Rithesh Ram, representing the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, emphasized the importance of local communities taking control of their healthcare infrastructure. The recent success of fundraising events, such as Oktoberfest, has bolstered hopes for continued progress in addressing healthcare needs at the Innisfail Health Centre.