Thorncliffe, Flemingdon Park rally to save health ambassadors as initial funding dries up

A pregnant Attia Mahmood said it didn't take long to learn something was wrong with her healthafter she arrived in Thorncliffe Park from Pakistan two years ago.

During her first Canadian doctor's visit, she said she was told she was at high risk for developing diabetes, and that she needed medications and a new diet. Without OHIP, she says she had to rely on her father to help pay out of pocket.

The nextyear, during her next pregnancy, she saysa Community Health Ambassador slipped a flyer under her door,directing her to the South Asian diabetes program at the Flemingdon Health Centre.

"I called them and these folks speak my own language (Urdu). It's more comfortable for me to talk to them," she said.

"They are providing free services, they are helping the community very well. They are telling us how much we have to eat, what to eat, whole guidance."

Mahmoodsays the program hasbeen a game-changer for understanding her own health. But now, community organizations fear it's at risk.Government funding may bedrying up,spelling an end to the pandemic-era program.

Funding ending is 'disastrous': community worker

The Community Health Ambassadors program startedin Toronto neighbourhoods theOntario government deemed high priority, because they were dealing with high levels of COVID-19 and lower vaccination rates. These neighbourhoods arepredominately lower income and immigrant communities.

JenQuinlan, CEO of Flemingdon Health Centre, says the ambassadors played a key role in reducing COVID-19 rates in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park by helping people get vaccinated and combating misinformation.

With initial funding due to run out March 31, Quinlan says she'samong multiple east end health professionals and organizations concerned for the program's future.

She says the ambassadors have only become more vital to the neighbourhood'shealth.

"To have this funding end at this time is really going to be disastrous for the population health of our neighbourhoods," Quinlan said.

"Our neighbourhood is grappling with what thatmeans. At this point, we know that there's such a need in the community that the health system is really under strain."

Ambassadors' role shifted after pandemic's peak

Health ambassadors are people who live in the communities they work in, said Quinlan.Theyconnect with local residents by going door-to-door, attending events and reaching out on WhatsAppor through handing out flyers.

Eshrat Meshkat and Hafsa Fatmiare two of the community's ambassadors.

Outside the Sunny Foodmart in Flemingdon, it tookabout a minute for Meshkat and Fatmito get the phone number of an older woman so they couldconnect her to a Ramadan nutrition seminar.

"We just try our best to help them," said Meshkat.

The ambassadors have been helpful in connecting residents to cancer screenings, says Quinlan. Their efforts resulted in a pap clinic opening in Thorncliffe Park that featured only female doctors, which speaks to the ways they can connect to communities, she said.

As a resident, Fatmisays she can reach people in a way others can't.

"It'sdifficult sometimes for higher-ups to speak to people. I'm hearing what the community needs," she said.

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The Ontario Ministry of Health did not respond directly to questions about funding for theambassadors specifically. But in discussions with CBC Toronto, it confirmed that the High Priority Communities funding, which includes theambassadors program, will continue past March 31.

Quinlan said she hasn't heard from the province about the funding continuing yet and that in her most recent quarterly update with the government, they had made it clear the funding would end.

In a statement, spokesperson Hannah Jensen also saidthe Flemingdon Health Centre is receiving an investment of $850,000 to expand to a new site, which will allow another 1,650 people to connect to primary care.

Researchers at nearby Michael Garron Hospital published a June 2023 study that said health ambassadors are the glue between care systems.

That's why Mussarat Ejaz,manager of population health at the Flemingdon centre, says it's important that the ambassadors program becomes sustainable to allow continued trust with the community.

"Funding comes to an end, and then what? You lose the momentum," she said.

"We want [residents] to have sustained access to health-care."

Ejaz says Flemingdon along wih the neighbourhood'shealth partners will have to piece together funding to keep the vital program running. Even still, Quinlan says they'll only be able to keep a "fraction" of the ambassadors they have now.

Mahmood,now a mother of three,says the ambassadors havehelped her feel more comfortable as a new immigrant in the community.

"So many families come here and are still unaware [of their health] because of the language barriers," she said.

"We need to connect them."