Expanding Healthcare Access: Our Healthbox Arrives in the Northwest Territories

Access to essential health resources can be challenging for residents in the Northwest Territories (NWT), especially in small and remote communities.

Geographic isolation, limited and strained healthcare infrastructure, and stigma or barriers related to health needs all contribute to gaps in accessing timely care and support.

Public health concerns in the NWT—including the opioid crisis, communicable and chronic diseases, and an ongoing syphilis outbreak—have increased the need for accessible harm reduction and sexual health resources.

To help bridge these gaps, the Our Healthbox initiative is launching and expanding across the NWT, offering free, secure access to critical health and wellness supplies.

Our Healthbox: A Confidential & Accessible Health Resource

Each Our Healthbox is stocked with a wide range of free essential health supplies, including:

• Harm reduction tools such as naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips

• Sexual health resources such as pregnancy tests, HIV self-test kits, and condoms

• Hygiene and wellness items such as oral health kits

• A service directory connecting individuals with local health and social services

These items are available at no cost, with no ID and no appointment required. By placing Healthboxes in accessible yet discreet locations, residents can obtain health resources without visiting a health centre. Supplies will be regularly updated using real-time data and community feedback, ensuring they remain responsive to local needs and help reduce health inequities.

The introduction of Our Healthbox across the NWT marks a significant step toward making health and wellness resources more equitable, accessible, and stigma-free. With support from local health and social services authorities, public health professionals, and community leaders, this initiative empowers Northern residents to take charge of their own well-being.

New Our Healthbox Locations Across the NWT

Five new Healthboxes have been launched at key community hubs, with a second location in Yellowknife coming soon:

• Behchokǫ̀: Kǫ̀ Gocho Sportsplex Centre

• Hay River: Community Centre

• Inuvik: Midnight Sun Complex

• Inuvik: Airport

• Yellowknife: Public Library

Why These Locations?

Each site was carefully selected to offer a welcoming environment and maximum accessibility for those seeking confidential, 24/7 health and wellness support.

Kǫ̀ Gocho Sportsplex Centre, Behchokǫ̀

A major gathering space for sports, recreation, youth activities, and community events, this site offers residents a familiar and discreet place to access essential health supplies.

“Having a Healthbox that dispenses essential healthcare resources to our remote community is a game changer,” said Shavaughn Good, Public Health Nurse at Mary Adele Bishop Health Centre.

“It empowers individuals with the tools to take control of their health, reduces stigma, and ensures that no one is left behind in the journey towards well-being.”

Hay River Community Centre

A central hub for programs and events, this location aligns with the values of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority—caring, accountability, relationship-building, excellence, and safety.

“Our Healthbox is a low-barrier tool with a variety of health supplies that our community can access for improving health outcomes,” said Lorie Steinwand, Registered Nurse & Manager at Primary Care & Community Health Services, HRHSSA.

Midnight Sun Complex & Inuvik Airport, Inuvik

As two of Inuvik’s busiest hubs, these locations offer stigma-free access to health resources for individuals participating in community programs or travelling through the region. The airport location also provides essential supplies for residents from more remote communities while they are in transit.

“One of the challenges in Inuvik is accessibility to resources, either because of stigma or the inconvenience of accessing resources from public health or the hospital,” said Barb Lennie, Nurse-in-Charge at Inuvik Public Health Centre.

“Many young people, low-income families, and individuals do not have vehicles, and taxi rides are expensive. Our Healthbox provides private, anonymous testing and prevention supplies in easily accessed spaces, eliminating barriers such as age, mobility, or privacy needs.”

Yellowknife Public Library

The library offers a welcoming, inclusive environment for individuals of all ages seeking a safe and discreet place to obtain wellness supplies.

“Our Healthbox plays a key role in improving equitable access to vital health supplies throughout the Northwest Territories,” said Dr. Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer. “By delivering these essential resources directly to where they’re needed, we meet urgent healthcare demands and strengthen our community’s overall resilience and care network.”

NWT Health Advice Line: 811

The NWT’s 811 Health Advice Line is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Anyone can call to speak with trained nurses who can answer health questions, provide guidance on using Healthbox supplies, help interpret results, and refer individuals to in-person services or local supports when needed.

Stay tuned for updates on additional Our Healthbox locations and future expansions across the North!

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