A unique partnership initiated by Niagara Health has led to a global first while putting the hospital on the path toward economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Niagara Health recently became the first hospital in the world to receive a shipment of Indigenous-supplied, acute care nitrile medical gloves. The gloves, manufactured by PRIMED Medical Products, are distributed exclusively by Certified Aboriginal Business Medical, Surgical and Safety Supplies Ltd. through Mohawk Medbuy Corporation, a not-for-profit, shared services organization that provides supply chain and other services to hundreds of Canadian hospitals.
The gloves are co-branded with PRIMED’s logo alongside MSS’s Indigenous stylized bear branding, bringing a visible Indigenous presence to operating, examination, testing and treatment rooms at Niagara Health’s Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne and Welland sites.
The collaboration came to be after former Niagara Health board member and Mi’kmaw lawyer Bernd Christmas introduced Angela Zangari, Niagara Health Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President, Finance, Redevelopment and Facilities, to MSS President James Hiebert. Both Christmas and Zangari were intent on following the federal government’s lead of achieving five per cent procurement from Indigenous businesses.
Zangari, who sits on the Mohawk Medbuy board, connected Hiebert with Tony DiEmanuele, the company’s President and CEO, to initiate building an Indigenous value-based supply chain starting with MSS.
From there, Mohawk Medbuy introduced Hiebert and MSS to some of their contracted vendors, including PRIMED to see where the collaboration could go. The result was co-branded gloves that Mohawk Medbuy is now marketing to its member hospitals, explains Veronica Guido, Mohawk Medbuy’s Director of Indigenous Partnerships and Strategies.
The social benefits of the partnership help more than one Indigenous-owned business succeed. As a social enterprise, MSS is committed to sharing half its net proceeds to further Economic Reconciliation of Indigenous communities by providing scholarships for youth in science, health and pre-medical programs in Canadian universities, including in Niagara.
MSS will also work with Indigenous communities, leaders and elders to develop business opportunities, and work with Indigenous healthcare centres to ensure safe, accessible care that includes traditional healing and a trauma-informed approach to care.
