by by Dale Bowyer Bowyer

BC Children’s Hospital and

BC’s Women’s Hospital ~
Center (formerly The
Salvation Army Grace

Hospital) announced that
approximately 1,800 patients
who received blood
transfusions at the two
hospitals between June 1982
and November 1995 have

been sent letters
recommending they be tested
for Human
Immunodeficiency Virus

(HIV). The letters are being
sent by confidential courier
delivery starting Tuesday,
March 14, 1995.

“We are notifying former
blood transfusion recipients
to encourage them to seek
HIV testing so that, if
required, treatment can be
provided,” stated Dr. David
Matheson, _ vice-president,
Clinical and Strategic

UNBC Student Newspaper .

BAD BLOOD IN BC HOSPITALS

Services at BC’s Children’s

Hospital. Although the risk
is very low, the hospital
recommends testing to
prevent any potential
transmission of HIV.

Both hospitals are also

recommending patients be —

tested for Hepatitis C, and
Human T-cell Lymphotropic
Virus, both of which could

have also been transmitted .

through blood transfusions.
Patients are being asked to
see their family physician or
local Public Health Units for
testing. Both BC’s
Children’s Hospital (BCCH)
and BC’s Women’s Hospital
and Health Center
(BCWHHC) share the same

blood bank, which receives
its supply of blood from the

Canadian Red Cross.

Dr. Penny Ballem, vice-
president of the Women’s
Health Programs at
BCWHHC asks for “the
support of the media to get

TGR ATA Het CD

by Doug by Doug Smith

On the 9th of February , the
UNBC Inaugural Awards
Night was not held at the
Canfor Conference theater. In
fact, it was not held at all.
There was a significant lack
of response from those who
won the scholarships and
bursaries. Out of
approximately 120 award
recipients invited, only 20
said they would attend.

Fa

EE @

Lary ee

The awards ceremony was to
have been the first major
event held in the new theater.
The 20 students who wanted
to attend likely felt honoured
that this event was being held

, for only a few students. This

was an opportunity for the
recipients to thank the
generous donors of these
awards in person. There
wouldn’t have been much
sense in presenting 20 people

continued on pg. 7

surgery;

-Ternowetsky.

‘groups, First
agencies, and

_ the message ¢ out.”
Purpose is to reach as J
former patients as possible.
“The patients —_ contacted
would have received blood or
blood product at BCCH and
‘BCWHHC during major
Maternity care
including high risk deliveries;

_for treatment of cancer or

blood disorders; or treatment

“of severe illnesses requiring

hospitalization in the
Intensive Care Unit of
Special Care Nursery.”

: Vol 1 issue 7

newborns to adults.

‘old and older. Patients,

parents or family physicians,
with questions about this)
program are!
being encouraged to call the,

notification

‘hospitals’ HIV Information
Line at (604) 875-2707
(Lover Mainland) or 1-800-|

277-6680 (toll-free). a

j calls are strictly confidential

, Wednesday March 29, 1995 1

.At the time of capi Under the Covers

patients ranged in age from;
Today
.these patients are nine-years-|

page 3
Page 5
Page 8
page 9

Page 11

news

editorial
funny things

sports & rec

arts &stuff

WOR THE CHILD'S SARE

by Dale Bowyer

The University of Northern
British Columbia will play a
key role in developing a
Northern BC Child Welfare

_Research Center, following

the awarding of a $538, 000
research grant from the BC
Ministry of Social Services.
The funding will be supplied
over six years and constitutes
the largest research grant
awarded to UNBC to date.

“There are significant child

-welfare issues in northern

BC, and the Center will help
to inform policy and inform

.practice in this area,” stated

UNBC Program Chair of
Social Work, Gordon
“The Center
will work with community
Nations,
regional

$63-33 555

WE OFFER FREE WAKE-UP CALLS TO UNBC STUDENTS AND FACULTY OO ——_————

|consumer groups to identify
‘issues, and address them. In
ithe next year, we'll identify
the structure and strategies
for identifying the major
issues.”

“The issues are many, and
include geographic isolation,

high turnover of social
workers, less access to
specialisis, shifting

jurisdiction for social service
provision from governments
to First Nations, and the fact
jthat solutions for social

problems tend to be

ideveloped in the south where
ithe range of concerns is
\different,” said Social Work
professor Glen Shmidt. As
part of the total research
lgrant, Mr. Schmidt and
(UNBC graduate _ student
Jeanette Turpin will examine
social work intervention

strategies related to children

MERALD TAXI LTD.

Service

|Airport/weelchair

with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
1(FAS) and Fetal Alcohol
i Effect (FEA) in northern BC.
‘“A study in the late 1980’s
i showed an incidence of FAS
in North America of two per
100 births. A recent study of
| a community in northern BC,
| however, showed that’ one in
| four children demonstrated
‘FAS or FAE,” said Mr.
; Schmidt. “We will survey
ministry workers to gauge
‘their knowledge of there

jissues and then design
‘ materials to bridge
| knowledge gaps. There will

also be an attempt to increase
public awareness.”

The Child Welfare Research
Center will be the research
arm of the UNBC Social
Work program, but will also
support research in
education, nursing and
psychology. \&

jee
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