FNHA Tuberculosis Services - In'ati Is'ick (Paddling Together) - aims to close the gap in disparity of TB incidence for First Nations peoples of BC and other British Columbians by 2022. Longer-term targets include the WHO goal for low-incidence countries which aims for a 50% reduction in TB incidence and less than 10 cases of TB per million population by the year 2035.
To reach this, the FNHA supports strategies that include assurance to timely and culturally safe diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for those exposed to and diagnosed with TBand transformation of traditional medical TB models of prevention to community-driven and determinants of health integrated interventions informed through an Indigenous perspective.
Objectives
• Reduce the incidence of TB disease in First Nations communities through culturally informed and community-driven interventions
• Assure systematic early detection, diagnosis and monitoring of TB disease in order to eliminate the cycle of transmission
• Promote holistic treatment including case management, integration of traditional medicine, social, spiritual and physical support via community integration
• Build capacity, compassion and engagement within community through training and funding Wellness Champions: community members who provide support, education and story-sharing to persons affected by TB and their communities
• Collaborate with First Nations, Provincial and Federal public health, nursing and medical professionals toward the prevention and control of TB disease at the community level
• Operate with excellence through the incorporation of surveillance, data collection and evaluation as well as First Nations community expertise and indigenous scholarship in program development, implementation and evaluation
FNHA TB Services – Program Elements
Collaborative Model
FNHA TB Service provision takes place through collaboration between FNHA TB Services, First Nations organizations, Regional Health Authorities and the BCCDC. Services are primarily delivered in First Nations communities and include community-level assessment, monitoring and prevention of TB, holistic Case Management of TB Disease and Contact Investigation when TB disease is present, capacity building through culturally-informed TB awareness and prevention activities, and surveillance, data collection and evaluation.
Holistic Case Management
FNHA TB Services aims for integrated, holistic case management of persons experiencing TB disease and those exposed to infectious TB. Efforts strive for a culturally safe, client centered approach to all aspects of care. Team members include CHN's, Wellness Champion's, Elders/cultural leaders and Primary care providers. FNHA TB Services Nurse Advisors provide TB service consultation, coordination and guidance.
CHN's oversee care management and align treatment with existing health conditions and services.
Wellness Champions are community members who provide DOT, education, cultural navigation and encouragement to persons affected by TB.
FNHA TB Services Nurses act as a coordination hub assuring care progresses according to quality standards and that services are provided with equity and safety. Team members travel to community to provide intensive consultation as well as training, facilitation of community engagement when TB is of concern and direct clinical service support as needed.
The Ho'kumelh O'pekwan (gathering basket) aspect of the program provides basic need supplementation in order to assure that TB patients have nutritional, transportation and other basic needs critical to successful treatment. It also gifts clients, Wellness Champions and Nurses in recognition of the hard work of paddling together for success.
Capacity Building through Culturally-Informed TB Awareness and Prevention Activities
FNHA TB Services provides culturally-informed education and awareness materials (such as posters and brochures); training workshops for CHN's and Wellness Champions; community-based gatherings with the aim of increasing awareness of TB and reducing trauma-associated impacts in community. An additional Relational Wellness workshop occurs with the aim of increasing the functionality of relational partnerships between all team members involved with TB clients. TB trainings occur throughout the year.
Surveillance, Data Collection and Evaluation
FNHA TB Services partners with the BCCDC in order to monitor TB incidence trends for active TB disease, TB infection and community-level assessment activities. Clinical information and research supports services and outbreak management.
Download our TB Services Pamphlets & Posters here:
Respiratory Health: What is Tuberculosis? Pamphlet (PDF 1 MB)
Preventing TB Disease: Medication Treatment for TB Infection Pamphlet (PDF 983 KB)
Preventing Tuberculosis in First Nations Children Pamphlet (PDF 976 KB)
Tuberculosis Medications Pamphlet (PDF 924 KB)
Tuberculosis and HIV Pamphlet (PDF 1.26 MB)
Tuberculosis and Diabetes Pamphlet (PDF 1.12 MB)
TB Breath, Energy Spirit Poster (PDF 502 KB)
View our TB Services Videos here
TB not TV
History of TB
TB Screening in First Nations Communities
Educational Materials
Requests for print-copy educational materials are available free by contacting
FNHATB@fnha.ca or calling 1.844.364.2232.
Workshops, TB Resource Box and In-Community Education
FNHA TB Services provides multiple workshops throughout the year. We also provide direct training in community, please contact:
FNHATB@fnha.ca or 1.844.364.2232.
Consultation: TB screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment
Consultation support and coordination is provided Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 except stat holidays and weekends. For urgent TB clinical concerns on weekends or holidays please contact on-call Medical Health Officer serving your local Regional Health Authority.
Information for Service Providers
Tuberculosis Forms & Guidelines for Community Health Nurses & TB Wellness Champions
FNHA TB Services Contact InformationTB Collatoral Order Form
Directly Observed Therapy Manual (PDF)First Nations communities in BC can continue to access BCCDC TB clinical forms, algorithms, manuals and medication information sheets on the BCCDC website at:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis
Health service providers working with First Nations communities in BC can fax TB forms to FNHA TB Services confidential fax: 604-689-3302.
Clinical Notification, Data Entry and Panorama
FNHA TB Services is the coordinating organization for all TB work provided within BC First Nations communities.
For communities not implementing the Panorama TB Module:
- Please document all TB Screening activities using the BCCDC TB Screening Form (previously titled HTLH 939 form) or the First Nations School-Based TB Screening Report for First Nations-based School Screenings only. Only children
with no health or TB risks should be included on the form, all others please screen using the TB Screening Form (939)
- Submit to FNHA TB Services by confidential FAX at 604-689-3302 for clinical review and Panorama entry
For communities implementing the Panorama TB Module:
- Conduct Panorama data entry for all TB screening activities
- Notify FNHA TB Services of any screening requiring follow up (CXR review/lab diagnostics/symptom or history evaluation) by email
FNHATB@fnha.ca
Panorama Support
For questions regarding data entry or Panorama process. Please contact: Panorama@fnha.ca for support, as support is Panorama-related and separate from FNHA TB Services or BCCDC.
Pharmacy, Radiology and Lab
For any questions regarding TB-related lab work, radiology, medications or Tubersol, please contact FNHA TB services at FNHATB@fnha.ca or 1-844-3642232.
For any other general inquiries please contact:
FNHA TB Services
FNHATB@fnha.ca
1-844-364-2232
