August 3, 2023
HIGH PRAIRIE — Local and area residents now have improved access to primary care with the recruitment of another family physician for the community.
Dr. Courage Itiekhao is a family medicine physician who is now practising at the High Prairie Community Health and Wellness Clinic. Dr. Itiekhao joins a team of five other family medicine physicians in the community.
“I’d like to welcome Dr. Itiekhao to High Prairie,” says Scott Sinclair, MLA for Lesser Slave Lake. “Family physicians are the cornerstone of medical care for rural Albertans. I know the people of High Prairie and the surrounding area will extend rural Albertan hospitality and help him feel a part of this warm and vibrant community.”
Dr. Frank Akwa, Associate Zone Medical Director for Alberta Health Services (AHS), says Dr. Itiekhao’s skills will be a great addition to the medical team in High Prairie. “He will help increase residents’ access to the care they need,” says Dr. Akwa.
Originally from Nigeria, Dr. Itiekhao completed his medical training in Nigeria and comes to High Prairie from Calgary.
Dr. Itiekhao says he and his wife enjoy travelling and movies and are expecting their first child. “We are looking forward to having good community support in High Prairie; meeting new people and hoping the community will welcome us as one of their own,” he says.
AHS continues to recruit for physicians across northern Alberta to meet community needs. AHS has physician resource planners who are dedicated to identifying and pursuing international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities. They work closely with various community partners and organizations, such as local Health Advisory Councils, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan, and independent physician attraction and retention committees.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
