ESKASONI, N.S. — A new bus program in Eskasoni is hoping the transportation will remove one barrier for residents accessing health care.
“Health is our priority and our biggest concern ... and we thought it was paramount to provide this transportation,” said Sharon Rudderham, the health director of the Eskasoni Health Centre, about the recently launched program.
Eskasoni First Nation is nearing a population of 5,000 people and according to Cape Breton University sits at 28.5 hectares of land. And for Rudderham, expecting someone without a vehicle to walk the length of the community to access health care was a clear barrier. The bus also gives priority to seniors, people with mobility issues, pregnant women and parents with small children.
The health centre also provides dental and mental health services and Rudderham says the bus can provide transportation to those who need it. To access the bus people must book an appointment at the health centre and then contact the bus driver to schedule the transportation.
“We believe that it was important to provide transportation services within the community,” said Rudderham.
The bus isn’t servicing health care demands outside of Eskasoni just yet, but they hope to do so in the future. Rudderham believes the Mi’kmaq community deserves to have access to public transportation and is something the community fought for in the past but wasn’t able to obtain. But she believes the community may look at it again in the near future.
For, now Rudderham says the 18-seat bus is a welcome addition to the community. The bus is limited because of COVID-19 restrictions and can only seat two groups of two to four people and one wheelchair client. Persons riding the bus are expected to wear a mask and follow the social distancing guidelines.
Rudderham says they were able to secure the bus through poverty reduction funding and estimates the bus cost around $100,000.
“We all know there are so many barriers when it comes to accessing health care services,” said Rudderham.
She hopes once the COVID-19 restrictions lift, the community bus can provide other services.
Rudderham thinks it can help with seniors' trips for elders or other community events. Right now, medical drivers help Eskasoni patients to access health care outside of the community, but she hopes the bus can help also.
Currently, the bus operates during health centre hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. And once an appointment at the health centre is booked, residents can call 902-379-3200 to schedule transit pickup.
