Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society Women’s Mobile Primary Care Program
The Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society’s (VAHS) Women’s Mobile Primary Care Program has recently marked two years of bringing culturally grounded, trauma-informed care to self-identified women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Since its launch in 2023, the mobile health van has made more than 184 site visits and served over 200 unique patients, with 70% returning as regular clients, demonstrating the trust built and the essential nature of the services provided.
Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society Women’s Mobile Primary Care Program
The program just received a major boost of $100,000 in new funding from TD Bank Group, through the TD Ready Commitment, which will ensure the continued operation of the mobile van and allow VAHS to expand its reach in the community.
The Women’s Mobile Primary Care Program delivers a wide range of health services including general check-ups, pap smears, birth control, IUD insertion and removal, STI testing, and mental health support. The van is staffed by an interdisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, a social worker, outreach workers, an Indigenous cultural worker and an Elder, all trained to offer care through a lens of cultural safety and humility.
For many women in the Downtown Eastside, this van is more than a medical service, but a lifeline.
“These women have often experienced racism, judgment, and trauma within mainstream health systems, leading to deep mistrust and avoidance of care,” says Jasheil Athalia, Program Manager of the Women’s Mobile Primary Care Program. “We see the need every day. Women come to us not just for medical care, but because they feel respected, heard, and supported. This important funding means we can continue to offer that safe space on their terms.”
The mobile van currently operates at three key sites, Cosmopolitan Hotel (COSMO), Oppenheimer Park, and the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, providing drop-in access three days a week. The program continues to evolve to expand hours and services in response to growing demand.
These services are needed more than ever with recent closures and shuttering of women’s spaces and services in the Downtown Eastside.
About Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society (VAHS)
Since 1991, VAHS has provided culturally grounded health care for the urban Indigenous community of Vancouver to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Today, VAHS has created a health system that reclaims and revitalizes traditional Indigenous health and wellness practices, incorporates the wisdom of Elders and the teachings of Knowledge Keepers, and creates pathways to healing that are trauma-informed, relevant, and unique to each person.
VAHS has grown from an after-hours clinic to a leader in full-scope medical, dental, cultural, and social services for urban Indigenous individuals and families.
To support VAHS, donations can be made online. Follow along on Facebook for community updates.
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