Recognizing Canadian Public Health Week, April 3 to 7

NEWS RELEASE

NORTH BAY, ON - Today, April 3, marks the start of Canadian Public Health Week. It’s a week that aims to highlight the contributions of public health and its workforce while highlighting issues that are vital to improving the health of Canadians. Although many became aware of the work of public health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the field goes far beyond asking folks to mask up in public.

In Ontario, 34 public health units provide health promotion, health protection, emergency management, and disease prevention programs. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) promotes and protects the health of over 125,000 residents, consisting of 31 municipalities, four unorganized areas, and nine First Nations communities from Rosseau to north of Tilden Lake.

While an acute care setting treats people who are unwell, public health units work upstream to create policies and opportunities to prevent people from getting sick or injured, to create and maintain supportive environments, to build resiliency, and to promote best possible health and well-being. Public health looks not only at an individual’s personal health, but also at underlying factors, including social and economic conditions that affect the health of a person or population.

Health Unit staff with different skill sets work to identify and reduce risks to population health through inspections, health promotion, research, surveillance of health patterns, vaccinations, education opportunities, community relations and clinics. Here is a small snapshot of some of the work completed by the Health Unit in 2022:

Disease and Outbreak Management

The Communicable Disease Control and Sexual Health programs managed 1,079 non-COVID cases of diseases of public health significance and managed 38 non-COVID-19 outbreaks.

Family and New Parent Supports

Over 100 people received in-person breast/chestfeeding education, while an additional 639 used the Family Health Information Line (1-800-563-2808 ext. 5351) for infant and child feeding consults. The Health Unit’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children program conducted 444 postpartum follow-ups and 730 home visits to families. Twenty-six families used the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) online seminars.

Inspections

The Health Unit’s Public Health Inspectors conducted 1,511 food premise inspections at 964 food premise locations resulting in 186 re-inspections. One-hundred-forty-eight pools/spas/splash pads were inspected. The public can view inspection results at myhealthunit.ca/CheckThenGo.

Tobacco Enforcement Officers completed 145 inspections at 121 tobacco vendors. Sixteen warnings were issued to tobacco vendors and 77 inspections of tobacco compliance at work and public places were completed, resulting in nine warnings and five re-inspections.

Oral Health

Over 900 dental screenings of grade two students took place and 730 children received dental care through the Health Unit’s Healthy Smiles Ontario program. The Ontario Seniors Dental Care program saw 317 seniors at the Health Unit’s clinic. The Health Unit’s dental clinic also worked with 718 adults.

Sexual Health Clinic

Over 5,600 clients were served through the Health Unit’s sexual health clinic either in-person or virtually. The Health Unit’s clinical information program worked with 1,346 clients, assisting them with general health inquiries as well as running the needle syringe service.

Vaccines

Over 8,600 routine and travel vaccinations were administered by the Health Unit and 5,479 flu shots were administered.

Work in Schools

Health promoters, dietitians and public health nurses led the Outdoor Ways of Learning and Sharing program, which included 852 students from 17 schools. The learning library for schools was used 159 times and 61 schools participated in the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program. The Healthy Schools team also grew their online presence with 150 new Instagram followers (@IMPACT_HU) with 125 unique posts on over 10 health promotion topics created by 20 youth volunteers.

Additionally, the Health Unit continued health promotion activities such as education on tobacco use, gambling, nutrition for youth, as well as helping older adults maintain independence, and advocating to the provincial government for income solutions. Many vaccine clinics were held throughout the district in an effort to help children and youth get caught up on their routine vaccines.

“Public health is a constant presence in our community and works behind the scenes to monitor and promote the health and well-being of our populations and help prevent illness,” states Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “Our staff are passionate about the work they do and strive to realize our vision of a healthy life for everyone in our district.”

For more information on what the Health Unit does, visit myhealthunit.ca.

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Media Inquiries:

Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca