Dr. Jennifer Njenga: Revolutionizing the Healthcare Industry
Dr. Jennifer Njenga has been revolutionizing the healthcare industry through her work as the CEO and founder of the Canada Homecare Group (CHG), bringing primary care services to Albertans at their doorstep. Black women business owners like Dr. Njenga are at the forefront of creating new businesses in Canada, representing 13.9% of new entrants into the business landscape, a figure that surpasses that of Caucasian women at only 6.9%, per Statistics Canada.
With a career spanning nearly two decades, Dr. Njenga has lived and worked in several countries, including South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. She holds a Doctor of Medicine, a Master of Public Health, and a Doctor of Public Health. Through her extensive education and professional background, the Edmonton-based physician brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role at the helm of the Canada Homecare Group.
The mobile clinic is staffed by a team of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses who provide primary care services to patients in the comfort of their own homes. CHG offers a range of primary care services that includes blood pressure and diabetes management, prescription refills, flu and Covid-19 vaccines, and referrals to specialists and other health and social service providers.
One of the key benefits of this groundbreaking initiative is that the services are covered by the province of Alberta, making them available at no cost to patients. Dr. Njenga's diverse team of health providers is another aspect that sets the CHG apart. They are fluent in Swahili, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Pashto, Hindi, and other languages that enable them to communicate with patients who may otherwise face difficulties accessing care due to language barriers or cultural differences.
The CHG team operates in multiple locations throughout Alberta, including Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Camrose, and Lethbridge, with a special focus on vulnerable populations, such as seniors, newcomers, refugees, and people without housing. The mobile clinic also works in collaboration and partnership with local community organizations, government agencies, and other groups to better identify unmet needs in the communities they serve.
Dr. Njenga’s commitment to underserved communities led her to create the innovative mobile clinic model that she launched just a month prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her own words, "I founded the Canada Home Care Group with the idea that everyone who needs care shouldn't have to travel to get it. So, our mobile clinic goes to where the person is, whether it's schools, senior facilities, community centers, or even settlement hotels.”
Her work is particularly significant because of the impact of systemic racism and discrimination on Black entrepreneurs in Canada. They often encounter major barriers to entry and growth in various industries, including healthcare. Dr. Njenga has experienced some of these challenges firsthand and understands the importance of building a strong support network to overcome them.
Her success in establishing the Canada Homecare Group is another positive step toward promoting greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare industry, where under-representation is a persistent issue. She believes that the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) is pivotal in connecting Black women entrepreneurs with the support and resources they need to help their businesses grow and thrive. BEKH is a critical pillar of the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), which is a $265-million investment by the Government of Canada aimed at advancing the Black entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Finally, it is worth noting that Dr. Njenga is a true leader and changemaker in her field. Her forward-thinking approach has underscored the role mobile clinics can play in addressing healthcare disparities and improving health outcomes for all Canadians. By offering accessible and affordable health care to vulnerable populations, Dr. Njenga and her team are making a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals and families.