Making some noise on National Physicians’ Day

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This article was published 01/05/2021 (1679 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Grab your loudest pots and pans, and make some noise for physicians this weekend.

Doctors Manitoba is inviting the public to step out onto porches, driveways or balconies today at 7 p.m., and clang their loudest cookware together in support of physicians provincewide amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are humbly asking all Manitobans to join in and help us recognize how doctors have made a difference over the last year,” said Theresa Oswald, chief executive officer of Doctors Manitoba. “We think it will be a real nice way to tell docs how much we care.”

Pots For Docs aims to pay homage to the front-line doctors helping patients dealing directly with the virus, and the “unsung heroes” who’ve been quietly clocking extra hours to keep clinics running smoothly.

Organizers encourage participants to share photos and videos of their high-decibel celebrations on social media (#PotsForDocs), along with any positive affirmations or stories about how physicians have helped out during the pandemic.

“We’re going weave all those things together and present it to our Manitoba physicians as a sign of appreciation for everything they’re doing,” Oswald said. “I think it will be special.”

Oswald credits Oly Backstrom for bringing the initiative to the province. “I want to make sure we give credit where credit is due to a real hometown hero.”

When the virus’s second wave crept up in November, Backstrom wanted to give a shout-out to the province’s health-care workers, after seeing similar projects take off in other parts of the world.

“Pots For Docs kind of rolls off the tongue,” he said with a laugh. “A little bit of a hashtag catchphrase.”

He spread the word online, and many communities got on board. Following the first event, Backstrom’s saw videos online of whole blocks of neighbours standing in their front yards, banging pots and pans.

“That was a lot of fun. We had really great uptake and participation,” he said.

Backstrom, head of SCE LifeWorks, a non-profit that helps people with developmental disabilities find work, hopes communities bring that same energy this weekend.

Today’s event aligns with third wave of the pandemic presently sweeping though the province and National Physicians’ Day.

The day honours Dr. Emily Stowe. Born in Norwich, Ont., in 1831, Stowe was a suffragist and one of the first female physicians to earn a licence to practice in Canada.

The Forks will be lighting the “Winnipeg” sign blue to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, Oswald, the province’s first female health minister (2006-13), said the best way Manitobans can show appreciation for physicians and other health-care workers is to book a vaccine.

“That is our pathway out of here, out of this situation with the pandemic,” she said. “If people want to find a concrete, tangible way to say thanks to physicians, they need to — for just a little bit longer — maintain their attentions on the fundamentals the public health physicians are telling us.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca