Air conditioning breakdown shows desperate need for renovations at Women's Health Clinic, director says

A lack of air conditioning for almosttwo weeks has forced the Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg to sendstaff home and reduceitsin-personofferings to onlymedical care for patients an issue that points to a need for significant investment in the clinic's aging facility, its executive director says.

"It's definitely sweaty," Kemlin Nembhardsaid inside an office in the clinic, as she recalled the indoor temperaturehitting 30 C after theair conditioning unitbroke twoweekends ago.

Since then, the community health clinic has scrambled to cool its downtown Winnipeg building by openingwindows, purchasingnewfans and installing a portable air conditioner. Some staff were sent home, to avoid generating more heat in theenclosed space.

It might be another week, or longer,untilmechanicsfind and replaceparts for theair conditioning,Nembhard said.

The clinic has rescheduled someappointments to be conducted virtually or by phone, while ensuring medical care appointments are happening in the office, she said.

"Many of those things need to happen in person, and many of those things aretime-sensitive."

The Women's Health Clinic supports more than 35,000 people every year with a range of services, including reproductive and sexual health, primary care, abortion services, midwifery and counselling.

The broken air conditioning unitis another sign the clinic's419 Graham Ave. baseis aging.

The 60-year-old building isn't accessible. The elevator doesn't line up with the floor, the stairs arenarrow and steep. A stretcher cannot manoeuvrethe hallways, while some bigger wheelchairs won't fit into the bathrooms.It's taken a year to fixwater damage, due to concerns about disturbing the asbestos the building is rife with,Nembhard said.

There's also a worry thebuilding will keep deteriorating.

"Our elevator is the original elevator;the boiler is the original boiler," she said.

"We're very aware that if one ofthose systems went down, it would jeopardize care for thousands of people."

NDP promised funding

During last year'selection campaign, the NDP committed in a social media videoto providing"full capital funding" to retrofit the building.

After forming government, Premier Wab Kinew directedHealth Minister Uzoma Asagwarain an Octobermandate letterto fund"critical renovations" at the clinic.

At this point, the province hasn't provided any funding. Asagwara said help will be coming, butdidn't provide a timeline.

"We're going to continue to listen to them, to meet with them and work with them so that whatever they decide to do moving forward, they know they have the support of our government," they said.

Nembhard said she's hoping for more concrete details in the coming weeks, pointing to the air conditioning breakdown as a "perfect example" whyrenovationsare needed.

The clinic has worked for a number of years to developa capital campaign to solicit donations, which it has yettolaunch.

"We're actually working with the provincial government right now, because ultimately, they need to come to the table to support that," said Nembhard.

She estimates it'll cost around $20 million toremodel thebuilding. The plan is to expand to five floors,fromthe existing three, and addmoreexamination rooms.

"The only thing that's going to be left are the floors and the walls."

Nembhardstresses that's the best option available, rather than a relocation.

"One of the questions I've had people ask is:Why this space? Why don't wejust move?" she said.

"We own the space, which I think isof paramount importance for us as we are thelargest abortion provider in the province."

Shedoesn't want her clinic's services, including abortion access apolitically volatile issue to be dictated by governments or landlords.

"Ultimately, we don't want to be at the whim of those sort of changing climates," and owning thespaceensures thatcare isn'tinterrupted, Nembhardsaid.

That means the health-care towerTrue North Real Estate Development wants to buildwherePortage Place mall sits in which the province intends to lease spaceisn't an option for the clinic.

Some patients aren't comfortable going into unfamiliar hospitals or institutions, she said.

"I shudder tothink about our clients having to navigate a [health-care]tower looking for abortion care, for instanceor after having, let's say, experienced sexual assaulthaving to navigate finding a place in a tower."

Asagwara said the clinic should determine its location based onthe best interests of its patients.

"Ultimately, the decision to stay in that building or not stay in that building falls with the Women's Health Clinic," the health minister said.

The clinic was initially a tenant at 419 Graham Ave.,before the property was donated to itaround 20 years ago.

Earlier this year, Bear Clan Patrol started to use part of the building for its headquarters.

Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg showing its age as air conditioner breaks down

4 months ago

Duration 1:56

The head of a community health clinic in downtown Winnipeg says a broken air conditioner is a 'perfect example' as to why the clinic's facility needs major renovations.