Supporting Sinai Health: Changing the Outlook on Neonatal Care

Universal healthcare is one of the many aspects of the nation Canadians take pride in. Yet, the Canadian healthcare system does not always have the support needed to allow for the best quality treatment under the large umbrella that is universal healthcare. 

The Conference Board of Canada describes Canada’s infant mortality as “shockingly high for a country at Canada’s level of socio-economic development” and gives it a “C” grade, bringing it to second-to-last among the 17 OECD countries examined in the article.

While Canada’s infant mortality has declined dramatically since the 1960s, the rate of this progress has been lagging peer countries in recent years. There are groups which understand the importance of the issue and strive to provide as much assistance as they can to help combat the stagnating infant mortality rate. 

The Moez and Marissa Kassam Foundation is one such organization. They have learned that one of the best ways to help reduce infant mortality rates is to improve neonatal care at its source: by providing quality education to blooming doctors.

This is why the Foundation has donated $2.5 million to Sinai Health to create a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fellowship. Sinai Health’s renowned infant program uses innovative education strategies to train Fellows whose expertise is expected to translate into practices in Canada and around the world. Donations such as those provided by the Moez and Marissa Kassam Foundation can provide the Canadian healthcare system the structural support it is in need of after these trying times. 

“We are so lucky to live in Canada and have the healthcare system we do,” Moez Kassam notes, echoing the view of most Canadians. “It’s the backbone of our society, something that was underlined for us during this most recent pandemic, and we need to make sure our hospitals and our healthcare professionals have the support they need to maintain this wonderful national treasure.”