Thank you very much. On behalf of the Prince Edward Island French-Language Health Services Network, I'd like to thank you for having us today. My name is Julie Gilman, and I'm the coordinator of the network and French-language services analyst at the Prince Edward Island Ministry of Health.
I'd like to introduce Ms. Jeannita Bernard, who is a member of the network's board and a nurse by training. She is currently head of the regular training department at the Société éducative, the Francophone community college of Prince Edward Island.
Our network differs from the other 16 French-language health services networks in Canada in that its structure reflects a close joint effort between the provincial government and the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island. We have two co-chairs, one on the community side and the other on the government side. I would remind you that you met the government co-chair, Donald DesRoches, in Ottawa on October 5. Unfortunately, neither Claude Blaquière nor Donald DesRoches could be here today.
Our network enjoys community, provincial and federal support and has had success with the four projects introduced by Health Canada's Primary Health Care Transition Fund. A virtual French-language health care services site, a French-language resource centre, a health prevention and promotion program for Francophones and a videoconferencing initiative have been established. As a result of this last project, the students at La-Belle-Cloche school in Souris have communicated with the public health nurse for the first time in French. The videoconferencing project, like the others, has developed into a habit. Now the health care system is equipped to provide services in French in the region where the Acadian and Francophone community is most isolated.
In addition, we are particularly proud of our action plan to provide primary health care services in French, which is part of the Préparer le terrain project. That plan, which has been validated by our community and government partners, provides a detailed presentation of necessary primary health care services by region.
Our partnerships are established, our plan is prepared. Now we need the necessary resources to implement it all so that we can provide quality health care services to the Acadians and Francophones of Prince Edward Island.