The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for Manitobans to visit family and friends in health care facilities and Eden Mental Health Centre (EMHC) in Winkler is no exception.

Officials with EMHC believe that isolation and separation can make a mental illness worse, so they've decided to build their own visitor pod.

The province is currently financing the supply of visitor pods made from shipping containers for long-term care facilities, but not for a health centre like Eden.

As a result, Program Director Karma Sheppard says EMHC has ordered the construction of a 280 square foot building that will be located in close proximity to EMHC's main building.

"This one is going to be built by a local company. It's more of a building structure, so it's going to look more like a shed type of structure but nicer. It will have two decks on each end and doors on each end so that patients can go in through one door and families can go into another."

Sheppard points out that because EMHC doesn't have the funds to pay for the project, it will need to fundraise in the community.

"This is a need that we have in the community right now. We know that people want to see their loved ones and due to COVID-19 we're unable to accommodate that in our building, so we're putting it out for families and for the community to try and fundraise."

It will cost $25,000 to build the visitor pod, which is well below the price the province is paying to convert those shipping containers. The structure will meet all the building codes and will be fully heated for winter use. The pod is being constructed right now during the current red level period on the province's pandemic response system so that when restrictions are relaxed, the pod will be available for use.   

Sheppard says once COVID-19 is no longer a threat, the visitor pod will be repurposed and used as an area for families and friends to gather in a more private space, something that is currently not available at the mental health centre.

 

The visitor pod will be constructed with a deck on both ends of the building. (Image supplied)