Humanitarian Concept: "Indigenous Mobile Hospital Deployments"

Hello All,

First, I wanted to shrink from the scale of this conceptual design since I first saw the challenge posted at "HeroX.com". A site looking for Innovators to be matched to sponsors offering grants as rewards within particular niche challenges. I found one program that was sponsored by a Canadian accounting firm named MNP. Which has served aboriginal cultures of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis populations for over 25 years time.

I Immediately had a flash of inspiration from my Intuition, but my heart began to sank when I saw the criteria submission guidelines. Not that they are unreasonable, just that two of the criteria I lacked the skills to source properly on my own. Since its stipulated that submitting incomplete material is rejected completely. Those variables were creating up to a 3 minute video presentation and bouncing my idea off an Indigenous person in Canada. Before resigning myself to apathy I decided to be a rather misfit Innovator and post the solution here instead at "Atrayo's Oracle". I had no realistic interest in the $35,000 Canadian grant award that was being offered by MNP anyhow.

The criteria of the idea challenge must be neutral in cost overlays budget wise. Besides requiring no governmental legislation to be enacted in servicing medical care in remote Indigenous populations in Canada. 

Here's a video from Executive Vice President of Clients & Services "Laurel Wood" from MNP describing the idea challenge. Which they call "Operation Blue Sky: Aboriginal Health Initiative".

Here's the link to the "HeroX.com" challenge:  

http://herox.com/MNPbluesky

My proposed solution to this dilemma is two fold including Canadian Army and Navy or Coast Guard assets. Since it requires to be addressing these 6 criteria overall as noted by MNP. Which are: Relevant, Culturally Appropriate and Inclusive, Cost Neutral, Flexible and able to respond to unique community needs, Action Oriented, Pragmatic and Sustainable, and Functional given current Legislative and Fiscal environment.

Given those parameters anything in the civilian infrastructure is incapable of heading into often remote wilderness encampments across Canada. Except for the Canadian Military forces which have at their disposal "Combat Surgical Hospitals (CSH). They used to be called (MASH) "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" units as popularized by the comedy sitcom series depicted during the Korean War conflict. 

A military health care unit may clash culturally with the criteria of this being culturally sensitive to the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis cultures. However it can be made at least partially inclusive by including enlisted and commissioned officers that may represent such aboriginal identities across Canada. Perhaps even pulling out of retirement commissioned officers with Canadian aboriginal backgrounds to aid as liaisons with such a healthcare mission.

The deployment of a pilot program (CSH) "Combat Surgical Hospital" unit to the hardest hit remote tribal settlement in Canada. As a baptism to see how viable such an effort could work on land and at sea with a Naval or Coast Guard Hospital vessel for Inuit populations. I would envision personnel rotations of 3 month deployments, however the (CSH) encampment would persist all year long. In cooperation with local Elder government council and the military engineers could pick an appropriate camp site together. Thus avoiding any holy sites or other locations that would offend the local indigenous cultures. Perhaps situated on the outskirts of a township or a bit farther a field that is acceptable to the military engineers and the tribal government. 

The "Combat Surgical Hospital" unit as I'm sourcing pertinent facts are from the Wikipedia page in general. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Support_Hospital

It states the most common medical unit deployments are that of the 44 bed variety, but can be scaled up to 248 beds, that requires at full deployment 600 personnel. Most likely the Indigenous Mobile Hospital Deployments would only use the 44 bed configuration. With appropriate support personnel including any military police units to keep order within the military camp itself. Without jurisdiction in the tribal townships, although in emergencies could only offer support help to the tribal police squad on site.

The typical (CSH) medical services are that of a climate controlled patient care environment. With a pharmacy, laboratory, X-Ray (CT Scanners too), dental capabilities, and additional medical services. All of which is powered by robust generators that are brought on site to facilitate their deployment needs. Additional medical services I could envision afflicting many of these aboriginal cultures to date. Similarly encountered in the United States is a rehab treatment for alcoholism, suicide prevention (amongst the youth particularly), and any rape domestic shelters as needed.

Public Town Hall meetings on a bi-monthly basis would help alleviate any misunderstandings between the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples. With the Colonel in charge and support spokespersons on behalf of the military. Even a tour for the Elder tribal council to inspect the (CSH) unit once it is erected for the local indigenous citizens could be offered.

Many Canadian armed forces have helped over these nearly 2 decades in Iraq and Afghanistan with the coalition allied forces. Now that legacy knowledge of helping often remote tribal regions in Iraq and Afghanistan can be put to good use in their native soil. Canadian health care quality is known and promoted as top notch globally as Mrs. Laurel Wood mentioned in the above MNP video. However a notorious gap has afflicted the aboriginal First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples in health care viability. 

My proposed "Indigenous Mobile Hospital Deployments" is a potential step in mitigating these often unimaginable circumstances for irreplaceable cultures of Canada. Be it Army or Naval health care personnel deployed in (CSH) units or a naval vessel delivering first class medical care in remote locations. Any nation in the post-Industrial world is judged by how they care for their own on a societal basis regardless of need. Much like the United States faces or at times ignores the affliction of tribal nations out of convenience. By pretending that out of sight is out of mind behavior is not sustainable, nor humane as the so-called land of the Free and the Brave. Canada faces the similar dilemma on a societal basis on how they treat their Indigenous citizens. I hope this proposed solution mitigates some of the factors that have been entrenched for decades within the blessed nation of Canada.