Three Manitoba charities have come together to bring a comprehensive screening and education program to Aboriginal communities in the province. Val Dunphy says the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Manitoba, National Aboriginal Diabetes Association and The Kidney Foundation of Canada - Manitoba Branch plan to roll out their Healthier Together: Mobile Screening and Education for Aboriginal Peoples in Manitoba program. "It is a unique collaboration and I think we'd like to see a lot more of it in our communities, even see this type of collaboration nationally."

"Together we can really offer all the screening that most people will need or want," explains Dunphy. She adds the mobile clinics will help First Nations, Inuit and Metis people learn more about chronic health risks and how to prevent them, noting Manitoba has some of the highest rates in Canada when it comes to diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

While she says the Kidney Foundation continues to hold its own mobile clinics, Dunphy explains it isn't able to host as many on site tests as these joint clinics.

The hope is follow up these clinics with an assessment of the needs in the community and offer various education sessions.

While the clinics are only open to adults aged eighteen and older, Dunphy says the education sessions are available to everyone in the community.

There will be thirty clinics and education workshops provided to communities free of charge this year, thanks to corporate sponsors that agreed to cover the costs associated with the campaign.

Aboriginal communities and organizations that serve First Nation, Inuit, and Metis populations in Manitoba are invited to apply for these free screening clinics and workshops. Deadline for applications is September 18.