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ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
In Nov 2020 we started our campaign by asking members to send a Christmas card to newly elected MLA 's.
In January 2021, the team started work in earnest. The outline of our achievements is show in the revers timeline below.
After two years we are once again asking you, our members, to support our work buy sending a personal letter to your MLA
The goal is to send the letter ahead of World Lymphedema Day Monday March 6th 2023
A template for the letter is available here
Fill in the appropriate salutation and address for your local MLA. Click here for contact info: www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members
BCLA: Advocacy Committee Timeline
November 3, 2022
Lori Haggstrom forecast PharmaCare application review in early 2023
October 5, 2022
Meeting with seven Ministry of Health MSP staff, chaired by Kala Vandermolen, Senior Policy Analyst, Provincial Services Branch
August 8, 2022
Meeting with Maura Parte, Director, Provincial and Specialized Services, & Kayla Vandermolen, Senior Policy Analyst, Provincial Services Branch, Ministry of Health
May 16, 2022
Lori Haggstrom email: PharmaCare application passed preliminary review; forecast independent review by end 2022
November 15, 2021
2022 Budget Committee report:
Support for lymphatic disorders noted and included in Recommendation #71; BCLA listed in Appendix B
September 29, 2021
Submission to Select Committee on Finance and Government Services: Budget 2022 Consultation
June 18, 2021
Application to PharmaCare: Financial Coverage for Prescription Compression Garments delivered to Lori Haggstrom, Manager, Devices and Providers, Ministry of Health
March 31, 2021
Christine Chandler call with Lori Haggstrom, Manager, Devices and Providers, Ministry of Health: Guidelines for PharmaCare application content
March 24, 2021
Meeting with Mitch Moneo, Assistant Deputy Minister -- Pharmaceutical, Laboratory & Blood Services; Maria Szabo, Ministerial Assistant to Adrian Dix, Minister of Health
February 22, 2021
Advocacy Committee added 2 members: Janet Frost & Michele MacHattie
November 2020
BCLA Advocacy Committee formed: Christine Chandler, Carol Armstrong, Willa Condy, Rachel Lumsden, Julie Aiken
June 18th 2021 the team after delivering the Pharmacare application to the Ministry of Health.
Annual World Lymphedema Day March 6
Every year advocates mount a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about Lymphedema. Representatives from; India, Europe, South America, United States, Canada, and Australia join together on March 6th to recognize World Lymphedema Day.
Each year BCLA requests the BC Legislature to proclaim that BC acknowledges March 6th as World Lymphedema Awareness Day.
The day is registered in Hansard.
Why We Need World Lymphedema Day
Great attention is paid to the battle against cancer. Yet, most people haven’t heard of lymphedema, which cancer frequently leaves in its wake.
We hear little of the children born with lymphatic malformations or those who inherit lymphedema.
There is silence on the issue of wounded war veterans, civilian casualties and others who suffer from lymphedema due to physical trauma or as a result of surgery. Too many who suffer feel alone.
Too many medical professionals remain uneducated about this chronic disease or underplay the devastating impact it has on a person’s quality of life. Too many go without the necessary therapeutic care. Further this tragedy is compounded when government and private health insurers deny patients coverage for even the universally accepted treatments that this disease demands.
A Call to Action
The message from lymphedema and lymphatic disease advocates is clear. “Lymphedema and lymphatic diseases are ready to take their place as international priorities.” The days of being invisible are over. Every year we acknowledge World Lymphedema Day to be celebrated on March 6th. We invite patients, their family and friends, advocates, politicians and treatment practitioners from every country ,to make their voices heard by promoting Awareness about Lymphedema.
Together, we can change the world.
World Lymphedema Day Press Release
2021 Sample Proclamation for MunicipalitiesLetter to Mayor / City Council
BC Lymphedema Day Poster (General)
Letter to Take to Your Dr. re Lymphedema and the BCLA