The Neepawa Area Health Auxiliary is celebrating its 120th year Anniversary and NAC TV was given an opportunity to interview their current President, Judy Gabler, to share the highlights of the organizations’ services to the community over the years.

According to Gabler, it started as the Women’s Health Aid Society and it was in 1946, which was after the war, when it was changed to Neepawa Health Auxiliary and became part of the Manitoba Health Auxiliary Association. The Association was formed to make sure that the local groups were all working together towards a common goal and to support each other. Unfortunately, the Manitoba Health Auxiliary Association was disbanded in 2016 along with other local health auxiliaries but the Neepawa Health Auxiliary remains to be a strong organization with a growing membership until now.

Gabler shared that the vision of the organization currently is to be able to supply health facilities in the area with medical equipment that will make life easier for staff and even for the patients. She mentioned that Prairie Mountain Health region of which Neepawa is a part, doesn't have enough budget for all the necessary equipment. She mentioned that the group usually raises around $10,000 a year but with the cost of medical equipment, they can't purchase as much as they would like.  “For example, I guess looking back through different things we bought few years ago,  we made a motion to purchase an infant scale for the public health at $8,200. For one scale, you thought that you’ll be able to buy a few of that but that’s just one example of how much something costs”, said Gabler.

Gabler also mentioned about their plans for the future, in particular a Family Room in the new Neepawa Hospital that is currently under construction. They would also like to have a store in that new facility to raise funds for the organization to ensure its sustainability.