The annual Mini Med School sessions at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre are slated for March 5 and March 12.
These free info sessions presented by Chilliwack Division of Family Practice allow attendees a rare chance to talk face-to-face with local medical professionals, and hear presentations on some timely topics.
“Understanding the Opioid Crisis” is the focus of the first session on March 5, geared to “gaining a better understanding about Addictions, Fentanyl and Naloxone,” according to Preet Toor, project coordinator for Chilliwack Division of Family Practice.
In deciding which topics to tackle for the 2019 Mini Med School events, they considered what the community might need in terms of public health information and education.
“Especially with the most recent statistics we’ve seen, the numbers are not improving, which indicate a need for more public education,” Toor said.
She’s talking about the BC Coroner Service report on overdose fatalities for 2018.
READ MORE: OD Stats for 2018
For Chilliwack the number of people who died from opioid overdose increased from 23 in 2017 to 35 in 2018, year over year. That means one person died every 10 days last year in Chilliwack due to drug overdose.
The 11th Annual Mini Med School sessions start with a half-hour resource fair, then a one-hour talk, followed by a Q&A panel with community partners.
Here are some Mini Med School details:
March 5: Understanding the Opioid Crisis: Gaining a better understanding about Addictions, Fentanyl and Naloxone
Presenters: Arden Barry (clinical pharmacist) and Nathan Toh (resident)
The Q&A panel includes RCMP, a physician, and a Fraser Health public health official.
March 12: Palliative Care: Is there such a thing as a good death?
Presenters: Elizabeth Wu (resident), Cindy (resident) and Gaby Eirew (from the RecordMeNow app)
The Q&A panel includes two physicians, a lawyer from Waterstone Law, and a representative from Chilliwack Hospice Society.
THe resource fair starts at 6:30 p.m. and the mini med sessions are from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
No registration required. Everyone welcome.
READ MORE: Mini Med School on timely topics
READ MORE: Mini Med 2017
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jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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