National Nursing Week is an annual celebration that occurs the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12. The theme for 2023 is Our Nurses. Our Future. This theme showcases the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health-care journey. The past few years have brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day, and showed the important role that nurses play in the community. “To all our Interior Health nurses, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your ongoing commitment to supporting patients, clients and each other in our journey to optimal health and well-being for all. Your caring continues to touch everyone here at IH, and beyond.” - Cheryl Whittleton, Chief Nursing Officer & Professional Practice Lead

If you're having a baby in Penticton, you’re part of an international initiative to improve the care that families receive before, during and after the birth of their baby, thanks to the Baby-Friendly Initiative. The Baby-Friendly Initiative, or BFI, is a World Health Organization and UNICEF program that guides health-care providers in breastfeeding best practices, and ensures families have the support they need and want. In 2019, Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) and Penticton Health Centre (PHC) collectively were one of only 25 sites in Canada to be chosen to pilot a BFI project. Now, three years later, PRH and PHC are on the cusp of receiving their baby-friendly designation thanks to the work of project co-leads Meggie Ross, Patricia Park and Cindy Barton. For expectant families in and around Penticton, the designation means knowing they’re receiving optimal care that gives mothers, babies and families the best start in life. As Meggie Ross explains, “The goal of BFI is to make breast and chest feeding easier for families by helping them get off to the best start possible, and supporting them for as long as they need. With BFI’s 10 steps to successful breastfeeding policies in place at our facilities, we know the family’s experience improves, and breastfeeding rates increase.” If you or your family is having a baby in Penticton, this is what BFI means for you.

Name: Angela Ozero (she/her/hers)Job Title:  PhysiotherapistYears of Service: 15Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganFavourite Quote: “Today is a gift. That's why we call it 'The Present'.” – Eleanor Roosevelt Physiotherapist Angela Ozero was born and raised in Pembroke, Ont. She lives and works in Vernon, on Syilx Okanagan Nation territory.

It’s time to have your voice heard. Public Health launched the third round of the province-wide SPEAK survey on April 25, 2023. SPEAK (Population Experiences, Action and Knowledge) is a chance to have your voice heard about your social, economic, physical and mental health and well-being. Participate in this year’s survey

Kamloops mother Julie Smith has never doubted the importance of routine immunizations in keeping herself and her family healthy. Even following a febrile seizure during their routine 18-month immunization, she is committed to keeping her children as healthy as possible and keeping their vaccine schedule on track. “Children’s health and immunity is very important, it’s just an added layer of protection. I always get my vaccines including my flu shots and make sure we stay up-to-date.” Her identical twin boys Gabriel and Alexandrite recently received their 18 month immunization. One of the boys had a febrile seizure following his vaccination. Febrile seizures, also known as fever seizures, are a rare response to an immunization when a fever has developed. Although they can be scary to witness, they typically only last from 30 seconds to two minutes and are not harmful. Both boys are as happy and healthy as ever and Julie remains resolved to keeping up their layers of protection. Vaccines are available to protect against diseases such as cervical cancer, influenza, whooping cough, meningitis, chickenpox and hepatitis. In B.C., young children are offered vaccines at two, four, six, 12, and 18 months of age. As children get older and begin school, vaccinations continue to be offered. This is to help children develop protection against vaccine preventable diseases. Some vaccinations need booster doses as children enter their teens. “It is hard to imagine a world without vaccines” said Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, Interior Health medical health officer. “I am so grateful for having access to a simple tool that has saved millions of lives and prevented serious consequences of so many vaccine preventable communicable diseases.” The need for vaccinations does not stop as you get older. There are many vaccines recommended for adults. All adults in B.C. can get a booster of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine every 10 years. If you missed your basic series of vaccines in childhood, or depending on your health, age and other risk factors, you could be eligible for certain vaccines. “I feel privileged that families like Julie trust me as a nurse to provide such a gift and to work with them to promote and protect optimal health,” says Erin Fulton, a public health nurse in Kamloops. Nurses like Erin are always available to talk to individuals or families with questions about vaccinations. Contact your local health unit to speak to a public health nurse. Check out this article for five things you need to know about immunizations and vaccines. Visit our Immunizations & Vaccines page for information on important immunizations for infants, children and adults, as well as immunizations for travel.

In the past few years, British Columbians have faced increasingly challenging environmental and climate related events. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods are a few examples of disasters that have significantly affected those living in the Interior and the rest of B.C. This interdependence between our health and the environment compels us to continue our work to reduce our environmental footprint toward a low-carbon future. As we mark Earth Day 2023, here are a few highlights of our environmental sustainability efforts in the Interior region. You can also view and download a visual infographic of our projects and initiatives.

Name: Wendy Glover (she/her/hers)Job Title: Team lead, administrative support services, KB Community, Clinical Operations, SouthYears of Service: 26Worksite: Kiro Wellness CentreCommunity: TrailAncestral Territory: Syilx and KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Several years ago, Wendy required a lengthy, complicated surgery, the anxiety leading up to which she described as “numbing.” She was reminded of how she wanted to approach the situation by the quote “get busy living or get busy dying” from The Shawshank Redemption. Administrative support service team lead Wendy Glover has a passion for helping and supporting others – from alleviating work from coworkers, to creating positive process change in the workplace, to ensuring the health and safety of her team. After 15 years working at Trail mental health and substance use (MHSU), she was promoted to team lead for the region, where she enjoys the work she does – particularly when she’s able to relieve stress from her colleagues through her organizational skills.

Thousands of volunteers of all ages work alongside our staff across the Interior Health region. Volunteers complement the care provided by our professionals, and are welcomed, respected and valued members of the IH care team. The incredible work, kindness and dedication of our volunteers make a huge difference in delivering outstanding care and positive experiences to the people we serve. National Volunteer Week is April 16–22, 2023. This year’s theme is Volunteering Weaves Us Together. This week, we are celebrating volunteers all around IH, and would like to introduce you to four outstanding volunteers who help strengthen our communities.

On April 14, 2016, the increasing number of deaths related to toxic drugs prompted the Province to declare a public health emergency. Six years later, more than 1,877 community members have been lost to toxic drugs within Interior Health. As this crisis moves into its seventh year it continues to take a toll on those left behind - mourning loved ones, friends, family, clients and patients. Those on the frontline providing substance use and harm reduction services are not immune to this emotional toll. Read their personal reflections of loss and hope as we mark this sombre anniversary.