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AREVA > Home > News
Releases > April
25, 2002
NEWS RELEASE
ATHABASCA HEALTH AUTHORITY NEWS
RELEASE
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada, April 25, 2002
Cameco and Cogema Help Build
Northern Health Facility
Cameco Corporation and Cogema Resources Inc., two of the largest
producers of uranium in the world, announced today that they have
made a combined donation of $200,000 to aid in the completion of
the Athabasca Health Facility.
Yutthé Dene Nakóhódí "A Place to Heal
Northern People", is the name of the new Athabasca Health Facility
being constructed on the Chicken Reserve near Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan.
It is a regional emergency and acute care, long-term care and community
health facility that will serve the residents of the Athabasca Health
Authority, the most northern health region in Saskatchewan.
"Although our company does business around the globe, we are committed
to being involved in our community," said Bernard Michel, Cameco's
chair and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to partner with
our friends and neighbours in northern Saskatchewan as they complete
this modern but uniquely northern health facility that will help
their community build a better future for everyone."
"Cogema Resources is committed to building healthy communities,"
says Tim Gitzel, President and CEO of Cogema Resources Inc. "Our
company has a history of assisting local communities through sponsorships
and donations. In the past, we have made major donations to projects
such as the La Ronge Health Centre, the Clearwater River Dene Nation
Treatment Centre, and the La Loche Health Centre. We are very honoured
to be a part of the Athabasca Health Facility."
The Athabasca Health Authority is one of the first health authorities
in Canada to have established integrated federal, provincial and
First Nations health services. It is the first time a provincial
government has agreed to build a hospital on reserve. Partnerships
have been a key element of the project since the formation of the
steering committee in 1994.
"All along we have been building partnerships and relationships.
They are very important to the support and success of this unique
project," adds Georgina MacDonald, CEO of the Athabasca Health Authority.
"It has been a cooperative effort and I am grateful to the friendships
we have with supporters like Cameco and Cogema. Our fundraising
goal is $1 million and the contributions from Cameco and Cogema
are the first donations to help us meet our goal."
The new full-service facility will provide a setting for both modern
and traditional native health care practices, and provide an integrated
and holistic manner to support, nurture and restore physical, mental,
spiritual and emotional health. Traditional values, concepts and
health practices will be maintained, respected and understood in
partnership with contemporary health care. The 4,000 residents
will enjoy equal access to quality services that are comparable
to provincial and federal standards, while being culturally appropriate.
The donations from Cameco and Cogema will be used to purchase equipment
and furnishings for the new facility. Construction is scheduled
to be complete by November 2002.
backgrounder
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For more information contact:
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Georgina MacDonald
CEO, Athabasca Health Authority
Phone: (306) 284-4911
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