Dear Editor:

The loss of the removal of property belonging to the Nicola Valley Health Centre, our ultrasound, fundraised by many hard working and dedicated volunteers, and Merritt and surrounding area citizens is not only unjustified but discouraging and disheartening for any future fundraising causes in our community.

What will be taken away next? This must be very frustrating also for all our good doctors, nurses, and health care workers in our town.

I cannot believe it. We are the Country Music Capital of Canada and our younger generation are told they have to go out of town to have their babies because of previous equipment removed, and we seniors and those with health issues are told we can catch a bus to Kamloops and that we will have to maybe go on a waiting list, up to a year or maybe more, for an ultrasound? There is something wrong with this system.

I agree with MLA Harry Lali that the reasoning for the removal of our ultrasound’s relocation is definitely a “lame excuse,” and in my opinion, you have tried to maneuver your budget by taking away more of our paid equipment by Merritt citizens. This is not fair!

Whatever the health centre was paid by the citizens of this community should be returned. I hope we have the co-operation of our mayor and councillors to take a stand in fighting for our rights. We are going to lose some of our good doctors and maybe our emergency services next.

I am a senior who has experienced taking a bus out of town for appointments, and it is not only inconvenient and stressful, but there are other added expenses to deduct from our small monthly pension. The so called bus trip is not only the gas or ticket, but there are maybe taxi services, meals, and maybe a room, if you have to stay overnight. I speak from experience, and when I started to volunteer and founded the Merritt Elvis Presley Fan Club, that is the reason I chose helping the patients' transportation program at our health centre.

We put on two fundraising shows a year. There are many great volunteers who are dedicated and help support and contribute to this cause, and all proceeds go directly to help this cause. We are thankful we can be of help to our community and wish we could help pay all the people’s expenses, but we help with what we can for part of their trip.

Please return the Merritt ultrasound. It was paid for here.

Dolly Jackson