Toronto's first Our Healthbox has officially launched at Dixon Hall (65 Dundas Street East), with support from BMO and the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR).
Driven by a shared view that everyone deserves the right to what they need for their health, this new Our Healthbox will provide free access to HIV self-tests, naloxone kits, harm reduction supplies, and sexual health products.
Developed by Dr. Sean B. Rourke, Director of REACH Nexus at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael's Hospital (Unity Health Toronto), these cutting-edge machines feature interactive touchscreens mounted on commercially available vending machines—transforming them into Our Healthbox units.
Healthboxes provide low-barrier, cost-free access to HIV self-test kits—empowering individuals to "know their status" —as well as potentially life-saving naloxone kits to reverse opioid overdoses.
They also offer wellness products (such as menstrual and hygiene items, or seasonal essentials like hats and gloves), and harm reduction supplies tailored to the specific needs of each community.
Each machine also includes vital health information and a service directory to help users connect with local healthcare services and supports.
Our Healthbox will play a critical role in supporting Dixon Hall, a multi-service agency that serves over 10,000 people each year—making a meaningful impact in the lives of some of the most vulnerable and at-risk members of downtown Toronto's East Side community.
"Our Healthbox is a huge step forward in ensuring our community members have what they need to protect their health." said Mina Mawani, CEO of Dixon Hall. "It's about giving people control over their well-being in a way that's easy and accessible."
Read the full story at the Globe and Mail here.
