Experts call on government to support hundreds of Afghan refugees coming to Waterloo region
An influx of refugees are coming to Canada, but those who support them say more funding and resources are needed to match demand.
After the Taliban swept to power in August 2021, Canada promised to resettle at least 40,000 Afghans.
Reception House is a Waterloo region-based organization that helps settle government-funded refugees.
“The government’s commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghans has ramped up in the last couple weeks because commercial charter flights have been arriving,” director of programs for Reception House Lynne Griffiths-Fulton said.
The latest charter flight with Afghans on board, landed in Toronto on Friday, May 19. About 50 of them came directly to Waterloo.
A total of 150 Afghan refugees are now temporarily living at a Waterloo hotel with upwards of 600 expected to arrive over the next year.
The goal is to find them permanent homes.
But housing, is just one issue. Health is another.
HEALTHCARE IS TOP CONCERN
Wajma Attaya is with the Centre for Family Medicine, which runs a refugee health care clinic. Attaya says many refugees arrive with post-traumatic stress disorder, either treated or untreated.
“People are fleeing from areas of conflict and may have experienced direct violence so they are traumatized it is an exhausting journey for people,” Griffiths-Fulton said.
Plus, other health issues need to be addressed too.
“Folks who come here and have prescriptions that require renewals or they have chronic conditions that require ongoing care, if they don’t have a primary care provider that they are attached to they have to go to the emergency room or walk-in clinic,” CEO of the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, Tara Groves-Taylor said.
According to Attaya when newcomers arrive, they're supposed to be treated at a temporary clinic for the first six months, then move onto an assigned family doctor.
“Specifically focusing in on the refugee health clinic, we run our clinic a total of two days a week,” she said.
But because of an ongoing family doctor shortage in Ontario, some have to stay with the temporary refugee clinic for up to two years. It means those clinics are bottle-necked and there are some refugees who don’t get to see a doctor at all.
“We just don’t have the human health resources from reception all the way to primary care,” Attaya said.
In certain cases refugees, have ended up at the emergency room or a walk-in clinic for something as simple as a prescription renewal.
“Walk-in clinics may not be set up with interpretation services or the services that are required,” Groves-Taylor said.
“The longer term solution is that the federal government and the provincial government need to talk to each other.”
A statement in Part from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reads: “Where there are identified gaps in health human resources, IRCC works with its partners to register medical professionals and ensure sufficient IFHP providers across all locations where refugees and asylum claimants reside.”
CTV News reached out to the federal and provincial governments to ask them if organizations like the ones in K-W will be seeing any increased support, to match the increase in patients.
The Ministry of Health responded did not answer the specific question.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.