New Canadians with medical training ready to treat patients in rural, northern Manitoba

Dr. Choma Lim (right) is among 19 new Manitoba doctors heading to rural and northern communities to work in clinics.

Laverne Taylor said if there were more doctors in her home community of Garden Hill First Nation, people there wouldn't have to spend so much time in Winnipeg being treated for illness, like she is now.

"Because there's only one doctor that comes there and we need more help," said Taylor.

She herself is in and out of Winnipeg hotels and boarding homes almost every week because her community, like many others in rural and northern Manitoba, has limited access to doctors.

An international medical program from the University of Manitoba aims to change that.

This year, there are 19 people graduating from the program - doctors who've immigrated to Canada and will start treating patients in the coming weeks.

Each of the 19 doctors are already trained and qualified to be general practitioners.

What they do learn at the program is to transition into the Canadian medical system.

Dr. Choma Lim arrived in Canada six years ago and will be heading up to Garden Hill for the next four years.

"(Coming) from a small community back in the Philippines, I really want wanted to be in remote, underserved areas and this is the perfect program for me," said Dr. Lim.

A unique program, says program director Dr. Martina Reslerova, that all Manitobans should be proud of.

"It's a partnership between Manitoba Health, the Government of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, the College of Physicians who have come up with a program that provides assessment and training for people who go on to medically underserviced areas," said Dr. Reslerova.

She said the program benefits both the new Canadian doctors those who need the medical attention.

Laverne Taylor agrees and says she's looking forward to meeting Dr. Lim in Garden Hill.

The other places the new doctors will be heading to include Vita, Pine Falls and Thompson.