On January 23, 2023, during a small ceremony at ENSEMBLE in Moncton, New Brunswick, an important milestone quietly unfolded with the launch of the first Our Healthbox machine in Canada.
Even in freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, people gathered outside the ENSEMBLE building, underscoring both their support and the community’s urgent need for Our Healthbox—a crucial resource for health and well-being.
The launch came at a challenging moment for Canada, amid rising HIV rates and a worsening opioid crisis that continues to affect individuals, families, and communities across the country. New Brunswick, like many other regions, has struggled with increasing substance use, resulting in a spike in overdose deaths and the spread of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV. Persistent stigma around substance use and HIV has further limited access to essential harm reduction services and supplies.
Our Healthbox was created to address these gaps by offering low-barrier access to vital health and harm reduction supplies through interactive dispensing systems designed to support underserved populations.
“Everyone in Canada deserves timely access to healthcare essentials. Our Healthbox bridges gaps in care, tailored to each community,” said Dr. Sean B. Rourke, a scientist at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Read the full story at OurHealthbox.ca
