First Nations Health Authority facts for kids

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is an organization that helps manage health services for First Nations people living in British Columbia (BC). It works to make sure First Nations communities have good health programs and support.

About the FNHA

The FNHA is part of a special health system for First Nations in BC. This system also includes the First Nations Health Council and the First Nations Health Directors Association.

The FNHA was created through important agreements between three groups:

• First Nations in BC
• The Province of BC
• The Government of Canada

These agreements helped create a new way to manage health for First Nations. The FNHA was the first health authority of its kind in Canada. It covers all First Nations communities across an entire province.

What the FNHA Does

The FNHA helps plan, create, manage, and pay for health programs and services for First Nations people in BC. These services are often based in communities. They focus on keeping people healthy and preventing sickness.

Some of the services the FNHA supports include:

• Basic doctor visits and care.
• Programs for mental health and addiction support.
• Building and improving health facilities.
• Looking after environmental health, like clean water.
• Helping with Non-Insured Health Benefits, which cover some health costs.

The main goal of the FNHA is to improve the health of First Nations people. They work to close the health gaps between First Nations people in BC and others in the province. The FNHA helps First Nations people in both cities and rural areas. It serves 203 communities across British Columbia.

In 2013, the FNHA took over many health programs and services from Health Canada. This was a big step in First Nations taking more control over their own health care.

Clean Drinking Water Efforts

The FNHA's Environmental Public Health Services (EPHS) helps keep drinking water safe. They issue "drinking water advisories" when water might not be safe to drink. These advisories include:

• Boil Water Advisory (BWA): You need to boil water before using it.
• Do Not Consume (DNC): Do not drink the water at all.
• Do Not Use (DNU): Do not use the water for anything.

The FNHA checks 285 community water systems in 193 First Nations communities in BC. In 2011, 11 long-term advisories (those lasting over a year) were removed. In 2016 and 2017, another 7 long-term advisories were lifted. By January 31, 2019, there were 10 drinking water advisories in effect across 8 First Nation communities. The FNHA continues to work on ensuring safe drinking water for all communities.