WSO Works with Fraser Health to Prepare Sikh Faith Resources
  The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) in partnership with the Fraser Health Authority has announced the launch of a compendium on the Sikh faith and best practices for Sikh patients. The announcement came during WSO’s annual inter-community dinner in Surrey.
 The FHA serves an area that is home to the largest population of Sikhs in Canada. The WSO worked with the FHA to provide information and feedback on the preparation of the compendium which provides information on topics such as Sikh articles of faith, dietary requirements and cultural sensitivities. WSO also worked with the FHA to prepare a seminar presentation on the Sikh faith. The seminars were delivered last summer by Fraser Health Diversity Services for managers at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre and Surrey Memorial Hospital.
WSO’s British Columbia Vice President Gurdit Singh Rangi said, “because FHA serves a community with a very large Sikh population, it is essential for staff to be knowledgeable about the Sikh faith and best practices when interacting with Sikh patients. We believe Fraser Health Diversity Services is serving as a leader in designing these resources and making them available to staff and WSO is more than happy to assist by providing its expertise.” WSO President Prem Singh Vinning added, “we are hopeful that we can use this experience to assist other hospitals and health care facilities across Canada to develop similar educational materials on the Sikh faith.
When a family is at the hospital, it’s often a time of stress and it is important that patients receive the best care possible. Knowledge is the first step to doing that.” The WSO would like to particularly acknowledge the efforts of Sana Fakih of FHA’s Diversity Services and her role in carefully assembling and designing the materials and also the role of Jas Cheema, Leader of Diversity Services, for her assistance throughout.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.