Manawan to get its own ambulance service after 20 years of lobbying

The Atikamekw community of Manawan is finally getting its own ambulance service.

The communityin the Lanaudire region of Quebechas been pushing for 20 years for their own ambulance, having to wait two hours or more for paramedics to arrive from the closest municipality.

Theyrelied on the service out ofSaint-Michel-des-Saints, which is 88 kilometres away. Those paramedics have made 450 trips between the two towns this year.

Members of the First Nation with a population of around 1,800have complained that deaths could have been avoided if ambulances had been able to get on site earlier.

The parents ofan eight-year-old girl who drowned in Lac Mtabeskgain 2016 spoke out last year to demand better emergency response services in the community.

The coroner made no mention of the ambulance servicein the report, but theparents were convinced that paramedics might have been able to revive her.

"I am relieved to see finally a happy ending to this long saga," said Chief Paul-mileOttawa.

"There were many barriers to get what we deserve, but the arrival of thispermanent ambulance service in Manawanis proof that with perseverance, anything is possible."