Priorities and Actions
Improve access and participation in cancer screening
- Improve access to Ontario Health’s cancer screening programs by working with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous partners to support expansion and enhancements of the programs across the province
- Continue to implement Indigenous community- and research evidence-informed recommendations to improve cancer screening participation in collaboration with Indigenous partners
- Address barriers to help improve access to cancer screening for Indigenous people, including access to primary care and navigation supports
Improve coordination and integration of cancer screening services
- Continue to support health care providers to improve the coordination of cancer screening and follow-up of results, reducing barriers to early cancer detection and treatment
Support specific initiatives to improve organized cancer screening programs
- Improve colon cancer screening participation rates among Indigenous men
- Support the Ontario Lung Screening Program through expansion and enhancements of the program across the province for Indigenous people
- Develop culturally appropriate Indigenous-specific screening communication materials
- Continue to inform organized screening programs for breast, colon, cervical and lung cancer to ensure they are inclusive of Indigenous people and address their unique needs
- Explore age eligibility requirements for cancer screening programs and Indigenous people
Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan Priorities and Actions
- In partnership with the ICCU, continue to explore opportunities to improve access to screening
- Support South West Ontario Lung Screening Program roll out
- Support culturally safe screening events, clinics (St. Joe’s Pop-Up pap clinics, Thames Valley Health Team screening clinics)
- Continue to identify opportunities to measure screening participation rates, follow up and barriers to participation in the region (e.g., RICL and physician lead will partner to share the screening reminder tool reminder resource)
- Collaborate and coordinate Community based and Urban based Indigenous screening events (Strathroy Breast Screening, In community screening, SOAHAC screening)
- Continue to disseminate the screening reminder tool to Indigenous communities and organizations and promote the use of the tool through virtual or in-person workshops/educational learning sessions
- Update screening reminder tool with changes to screening eligibility & testing
Anticipated Benefits to Indigenous Communities
- Increased regional understanding of challenges with accessing cancer screening for Indigenous peoples in the South West Region
- Increased participation in colorectal, breast and cervical screening programs among Indigenous peoples in the South West Region
- Increased access to screening programs for Indigenous peoples in the South West Region
Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan Overview
- South West Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan: 2024 - 2028
- Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan Reference Material
- Provincial Indigenous Partners
- About Indigenous Communities in the South West Region
- About the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit at Ontario Health
- About the South West Regional Cancer Program
- About Indigenous Health in the Hospital(s)
- Eight Strategic Priorities
- Strategic Priority 1: Building Productive Relationships
- Strategic Priority 2: Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Strategic Priority 3: Prevention and Well-Being
- Strategic Priority 4: Cancer Screening
- Strategic Priority 5: Palliative and End-of-Life Care
- Strategic Priority 6: Survivorship
- Strategic Priority 7: Education
- Strategic Priority 8: Equitable Access
- Data Governance, Engagement and Reporting Process
Go back to the South West Regional Cancer Plans landing page.
