The Kitimat General Hospital Foundation (KGHF) is hosting its annual gala this weekend at the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club after a four year break largely due to COVID-19.

Cynthia Medeiros, executive director of the Kitimat General Hospital Foundation, spoke with CFNR about the up coming event. The foundation hopes that the funds raised from this year's gala will alleviate the financial strain and bring in much needed equipment.

“The money raised doesn't go to the everyday things that should be supplied by Northern Health, but rather taking the level of care above and beyond and making care better,” Medeiros said.

With a four-year hiatus, the needs of the hospital have grown: one of the main items on the wishlist is a CT machine. The Kitimat Hospital currently doesn’t have its own CT and, instead, relies on the Terrace Hospital's equipment.

“On a good day, the drive to Terrace is 45 minutes, and if the Terrace CT is down or not working we then need to send them to Prince Rupert," Medeiros said.

Northern Health is currently looking into the purchase of a CT scan for KGH and the approximate cost remaining is around 1.3-1.4 million and with the added cost of renovation to the room needed the total is around 3 million dollars.

Previous galas raised about 25-27 thousand dollars.

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