A pen of breeding heifers may not appear to have much to do with health care.
But a Beef Up Your Health project will play Santa to health-care districts, hospitals and nursing homes in southwestern Saskatchewan.
Lyn Johnston, executive director of the Dr. Noble Irwin Healthcare Foundation Inc., said the heifers will be raised over the winter and sold next spring.
It is one of several fund-raising projects organized by the 18-month-old foundation.
Johnston said 20 heifers have been acquired since the project started last month, but the foundation is hoping for 100 animals.
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Producers have donated cash, feed and animals. Feedlots, auction centres, veterinarians, truckers and elevators have donated services and facilities.
Johnston said the project was originally going to raise slaughter animals, but the organizers decided breeding heifers would be better because they and their progeny would stay in the region as a visible symbol of the bond linking agriculture and health.
The heifer sale will raise money to buy five pieces of imaging equipment to help diagnose health problems such as cancer.
Johnston said several machines still in use are well past their 12-year life expectancy.
“Some diagnostic equipment that’s 22 years old is in the palliative care area. It should be in a museum.”
The foundation hopes to raise $1.8 million for the imaging campaign. Last year it raised $150,000 to buy five dialysis machines. People with failing kidneys can now travel to Swift Current for the twice-weekly treatments rather than driving to Regina or Saskatoon.
Money raised by the foundation is only used to buy equipment. It does not replace government funding, which is to cover operating budgets such as staff, buildings and health district administration.
“Health care affects each and every one of us and people are pretty cognizant of the situation,” said Johnston.
“There’s only so many dollars to go around. Government dollars just can’t afford the equipment. People are investing in their own needs and their family’s.”
The foundation topped its first-year fund-raising goal by collecting $370,000. This year it wants to raise $685,000 and Johnston hopes to eventually level out at $1 million a year in donations.
Other fund-raising projects include a Christmas television auction, a 24-hour relay, a Greek night and a golf tournament. The auction is scheduled for Dec. 10 this year.
Johnston said the region’s 47,000 residents live in two health districts. She knows first hand about service duplication because she sits on the committee that assesses equipment needs.
Making Swift Current the centre for reading X-rays and other diagnostic film has avoided some overlap. She knows there is no way full-scale treatment can develop in every small community.
“As far as regionalization goes, it’s always a touchy subject but look at it economically and socially. We can lower waiting lists if you have the equipment. There is less cost to people for travel, lodging and having family support. It’s a win-win situation.”
