Mission All Together for Healthcare (MATH) Society
Special Accomplishment Award
The Mission All Together for Healthcare Society, commonly known as MATH, is a non-profit society that supports a community-based model of healthcare that serves the residents of Mission and its surrounding areas, competently and efficiently.
MATH was formed by members of the community, following the unexpected death of Sandra Selvaraja at Mission Memorial Hospital in May of 2018. Sandra was a local and well-loved nurse and her death demonstrated the need to improve Mission’s access to high quality healthcare. Her husband, Ken Selvaraja, initially brought the group together to discuss the needs of the community and how best to bring about positive change within our healthcare system. It was quickly recognized that more citizen engagement and public input is required when it comes to priority setting and long-term planning for the healthcare system and in determining the unique needs of the community. To this end, MATH formed as a society and began working collaboratively with the powers that be to bring about positive and lasting change for the betterment of us all.
MATH’s focus is on making an impact. It is comprised of people who have experience in, and knowledge of, various aspects of both the healthcare system and the community. Because of this, it is ideally equipped to work within the existing system while also representing the community as a whole. MATH’s approach is practical, solution-driven, and based on cooperation, communication and coordination with provincial and local governments, the community and the healthcare system. It is a driving force for excellence and innovation.
In December 2021, the Province of British Columbia announced that Mission Memorial Hospital will be getting a CT scanner. This is a major milestone for our community as MMH is currently the only hospital west of Hope in the Lower Mainland that is not equipped with an on-site CT scanner. Without this critical piece of equipment, it takes precious time for our residents to travel to Abbotsford for their urgently needed emergency CT scans.
MATH’s leadership played a key role in making this happen. They developed partnerships with local doctors, Fraser Health, and the Fraser Valley Healthcare Foundation, and went to the Province as a well-prepared and organized team. When they were told that there was no money in the budget for the necessary feasibility study, they said, “Okay, not a problem. We will fundraise the $70,000 for that. What else is needed?” Essentially, they found ways to remove the barriers to change and, in doing so, ultimately inspired the Province to bring much-needed capital dollars to the project. The MATH Society members continue to fundraise and they have already reached the $1 million dollars that they planned to raise in support of this initiative.
MATH’s advocacy and leadership is helping shape the future of healthcare in our region and we are truly grateful for their professionalism and tireless efforts on behalf of the community.
It is with great pleasure that Councillor Plecas will now present the Mission All Together for Healthcare Society’s representatives with this well-deserved 2022 Special Accomplishment Award.
(Text read aloud at the 2022 Community Service Awards Ceremony, Clarke Foundation Theatre, April 26, 2022.)
