Navigating my first pregnancy should be an exciting and joyful journey, but instead, it has been overshadowed by stress and uncertainty and I can only imagine how many fellow expecting mothers are experiencing the same thing. As a resident of Kamloops, BC, myself and many others have been left without access to crucial maternity care services after Interior Health decided to shut down access to maternal care except for showing up to the hospital due to lack of staffing. The lack of access to midwives, obstetricians and family doctors is extremely alarming in our community. 

Maternity care isn't just a health service; it is a fundamental component of stable and secure communities. Expectant mothers, like myself, are struggling to find the necessary support and guidance in our most vulnerable times. The closure of maternity services means we lack vital resources such as qualified professionals who provide prenatal classes, antenatal check-ups and monitoring, postnatal care, and doctors that specialize in labour/delivery. 

The decision to shut down these services affects hundreds within our community. According to Statistics Canada, Kamloops has a growing population, with approximately 1000 newborns each year needing support. Without local access to skilled healthcare providers, families are forced to travel long distances to receive care, a burden that can be emotionally and financially draining.

We call upon Interior Health to recognize the critical need for dedicated maternity care in Kamloops. By investing in recruitment and retention of maternity care providers, support for midwifery services, improving access to prenatal and postnatal care, and better mental health support for new parents, we can restore the robust support network that pregnant women and new mothers deserve. Local healthcare should be reinforced, not depleted, so that these essential needs are met within our own community.

Join us in urging Interior Health to prioritize the reinstatement of maternity care services in Kamloops. Sign this petition to make your voice heard and help secure the health and well-being of families in our community.