A City of newcomers
Surrey receives more refugees than any other municipality in British Columbia.
Around 50% of Government-Assisted Refugees in BC settle in Surrey.
Immigrants make up 43% of Surrey’s population, and 31% of Delta. Between 2011 and 2016, 23% of all British Columbia newcomers came to Surrey and Delta.
When expectations don’t meet reality
The health and social needs of the diverse newcomer population in Surrey can be complex due to significant and sustained hardships endured prior to their arrival in Canada.
The team-based model of Roots is designed to address these needs.
Why makes Roots a Community Health Centre?
Community Health Centres (CHCs) are an evolving and effective model for delivering team-based, community-governed primary health care.
Community Health Centres have been part of the Canada and the US health systems for decades;
In fact, CHC’s are more cost-effective for the care of complex patients.
Roots is proud to be a member of Canadian Association of Community Health Centres.
We’re working to improve primary care for vulnerable people all across Canada.
CHC’s have 5 characteristics
all of which we strive to meet at Roots:
1. Provides interdisciplinary team-based primary care.
2. Integrates services/programs into primary care, health promotion, and community wellbeing.
3. Community centred and community governed.
4. Actively addresses the social determinants of health*
5. Demonstrates commitment to health equity and social justice
*social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.
How does Roots CHC differ from a typical medical clinic?
Our Team is made up of various professionals.
A patient at Roots CHC may be welcomed by a Cross-Cultural Health Broker, be seen by a Primary Care Physician or Nurse Practitioner speak with a specialized Social Worker, receive tailored education from a Nurse, all on our premises.
We take time to provide person-focused care.
That means giving our patients more time than they would typically receive in a busy medical setting. It also means that, per day, we are only bill about 25% of what a typical clinic would charge the provincial Medical Services Plan. This also means that the physicians who work with us do so at substantial cost to themselves.
Our Commitments
To Our Patients
to value culturally safe care
to address social determinants of health
to design multi-disciplinary care plans that are easily navigated
to align with BC GPSC’s Patient Medical Home (PMH) and Community Health Centre (CHC) models
To our Community
As a charity, to steward public and private funding
to regularly measure our success and effectiveness when we try new care models
to provide local partners and municipalities with the information they need
to identify care gaps and strengthen community services
Help Roots grow
Our Leadership
Patricia Mahecha
Patricia Mahecha
Executive Director
Patricia is a Physician, Epidemiologist, Health Administrator, and Public Health professional. She has developed and managed various community health programs and projects for over 20 years
.She has worked for governmental organizations in Colombia and international not-for-profit organizations in Canada. Patricia brings a depth of knowledge, skills and leadership to Roots CHC. We are grateful to have Patricia leading the team.
Dr. Hala Ahmed
Dr. Hala Ahmed, Family Physician
Medical Director, Co-Founder, Physician
Dr. Hala Ahmed serves on the Refugee Health Working Group and is a board director of the division. She has extensive experience working within the Community Health Care model.
Dr. Ahmed has served as a lead physician for the Primary Care Clinic at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. She is a dedicated family physician with a focus on women’s health, refugee health and pediatrics. She is also an active volunteer in the local Muslim community in Surrey.
Dr. Majid Hussain
Dr. Majid Hussain, Family Physician
Chair, Co-Founder
Dr. Majid Hussain is the Physician Lead of the Refugee Health Working Group, and an active and respected family physician in the community. He is a Clinical Faculty member with the University of British Columbia’s Department of Medicine.
Dr. Hussain has been committed to treating marginalized and vulnerable patient populations since 2012, helping create a free refugee medical clinic in Toronto. He is devoted to humanitarian efforts in locally and around the world.
Dr. Anthony Fong
Dr. Anthony Fong
Board Member, Board Secretary
Anthony Fong is an emergency physician and clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia with specializations in journalism, disaster medicine and refugee health.
He has previously worked with refugees at the Bridge Clinic and has deployed to disaster settings in Honduras, Poland and Ukraine, where he treated populations of refugees and internally displaced peoples.
Azim Dahya
Azim Dahya, CPA
Board Member
Azim is a project manager (BSc, PMP), trainer and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) at AAD Consultants Inc. He is a leader, trainer, mentor and advisor to the staff, volunteers and management of corporations and nonprofit organizations.
In 2010, he founded the Muslim Food Bank and Community Services Society and volunteers as a Director in several boards including Vantage Point, the Mennonite Museum Society, and the Richmond City Centre Community Association.
Sitawa Joyce Ywaya
Sitawa Joyce Ywaya, CPA, CMA
Board Member, Treasurer
Sitawa Ywaya was grew up in Kenya before migrating to BC Canada.
Sitawa is a seasoned professional accountant (CPA) in both Kenya and Canada. She has worked in different roles in different industries. Currently she holds the role of a Chief Financial Officer in a Not-for-profit organization.
Sitawa is also actively involved in her Kenyan community and serves on The Benevolent Committee Board of the Kenyans In British Columbia.