Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza is leading the effort to bring an MRI machine to the soon-to-be-completed Portage and District General Hospital, with hopes that the community will come together and make their voices heard.
In response to the growing number of Manitobans on the waiting list for MRI scans, currently at 24,000, Bereza is hosting a town hall meeting this Tuesday to address the issue head-on.
The push for an MRI began earlier this year when local doctors reached out to Bereza, highlighting the gap in diagnostic care that residents face.
“The need for an MRI touches everybody. It doesn't matter what color you are, or what race you are, what creed you are. If you need an MRI, you need an MRI. This really covers all political boundaries. We need it.”
A petition has already amassed close to 4,000 signatures, and Bereza hopes to hit the 5,000 mark by the time the town hall takes place.
“We try to reach as many people as possible, but a lot of the time information gets confused out there. We thought this would be a great time to bring everybody together so they could hear from some of the experts. But they also have a voice, and I can't stress how important that is. We want you to express what you've gone through, or what your family has gone through, waiting for an MRI, waiting to get that diagnosis. I think it's really important that we share with each other.”
The evening will also feature local doctors who can shed light on the technical needs and benefits of having an MRI in the new hospital.
Part of the meeting will also highlight the efforts of the Portage and District Hospital Foundation, led by Tara Pettinger, whose team has raised $5 million to help fund the MRI and support the hospital’s new infrastructure. Bereza praised their dedication, noting that the community's support has already made a significant impact.
The town hall will be held at Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment, a venue chosen for its size and accessibility. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the meeting will run from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Bereza is optimistic about the turnout and hopeful that the gathering will help push this cause over the line.