The Saskatchewan Medical Association is the latest to denounce anti-vaccine signs that were placed on doors and windows at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre.
In a statement, SMA President Dr. Eben Strydom said “Physicians, nurses and all health-care workers are toiling tirelessly in hospitals and clinics across the province.
The signs denigrate our efforts to care for all patients who need us, whether they have COVID-19 or not. The information in the signs is false and offensive, and the SMA denounces the signs in the strongest possible terms.”
Dr. Stydom added physicians have been heartened by the support and encouragement received for their hard work during the 20 months of the pandemic.
“While a vocal minority take the path of misinformation and division, I choose to reflect on the positive messages I and other physicians have received from the overwhelming majority of our patients and the public thanking us for all that we have done for them.”
The signs stated, among other things, healthcare workers “will be put on trial for war crimes & held accountable”, and makes reference to sections 1,4,6, and 10 of the Nuremberg Code.
An official at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre said security camera footage had been submitted to the police.
Additional reaction
Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley weighed in on the matter, saying it’s unbelievable that someone would do something like this.
“We give complete, total support to all our wonderful healthcare workers that are just so spent as it is right now trying to cope through their day. They put in crazy, long hours; they give up their families and their friendship to try and look after society and help them through this pandemic stage that we’re living.” Hippsley said.
Hippsley also noted the Yorkton Fire Department and Yorkton RCMP did a drive-through a couple days ago to express their support for healthcare workers, by running their sirens and honking their horns.
He says Yorkton City Council will be reaching out to the healthcare workers to express their support for them.
Meantime, Sask. Party MLA for Yorkton, Greg Ottenbreit added to his written statement released last night (Wed).
Ottenbreit understands a lot of people are fatigued by the COVID-19 pandemic, and also the need to respect views from either side, but stressed healthcare workers are looking after our best interests.
“I’ve got close family and friends that work in healthcare, I know their dedication and how hard they’ve been working and how stressful things have been on them and it’s just really unfair that they would be targeted in a way like this.” Ottenbreit said, adding he has reached out to healthcare workers about it, mainly through text.
Ottenbreit added he is in the process of setting up a meeting on this topic for tomorrow afternoon (Fri) in Yorkton, with local healthcare leaders, along with fellow MLA’s Warren Kaeding from Melville-Saltcoats, Terry Dennis from Canora-Pelly, and Travis Keisig from Last Mountain-Touchwood.
