You have asked me to write a few words on the Health Forum hosted by the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society and facilitated by Beth Garrish.

These are my opinions alone based on the questions given:

“What impressed you about this forum?”

Good participation by those present but it would have been better for it’s future success had there been more participants. I would like to have seen some representation of the service organizations which may have been able to get the word out and support the cause financially. Kiwanis has a large following and makes a good amount of money through their market. They also state that children and youth are their areas for service. Thus, if they had heard some of the discussion it may have planted some seeds for future project support.

I would also, have liked more school representation ( it was great to see the Board Chair there ) as if one sets the course right with the very young it will in most cases carry through life. Countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark etc. where good prenatal care and then early childhood education were the cornerstone of their health systems have the best health outcomes, the lowest costs, the best infant mortality rates, the healthiest populations and very low crime rates. We need to pump our efforts into children and youth!

We continue to look primarily at adult needs which are OK but will not give us the bang for the buck. Once again transportation came out high on the list as an area to be addressed because of the make-up of the group. Whereas, encouraging children to walk to school in an effort to develop lifelong walking habits, increase daily exercise, put them in touch with their environment etc. did not make the final cut.

Many very good ideas and interesting approaches were presented which are in need of flow up. The use of the pillars for direction was good but I do not believe all there linked them with the Determinants of Health.

The forum, topics etc. reminded me of the past “Healthy Communities” efforts and the much lauded but now forgotten Marc LaLonde’s “A New Perspective On The Health Of Canadians”, a working document published in 1975 by Health and Welfare Canada. It was followed by the Participaction initiative.

 What was accomplished?

If I recall correctly, at least four projects came out of the forum, three of which I personally felt could make a difference in the health of the community.

1) The immunization initiative is vital as the coverage for childhood diseases is dropping severely and can lead to outbreaks with death and disability which can be easily prevented. People have forgotten and not seen the effects of communicable disease together with the spread of misinformation generated by certain groups leading to this dangerous backlash against immunization. Early in my practice, I saw children blinded by measles and with major brain sequelia, as a result of this childhood disease, which is now seldom given the concern needed. The group who have volunteered to work on this initiative can have a great impact without a great deal of cost. It will be mainly a battle of information to the population.

2) The food security, healthy eating initiative again has a great deal to accomplish for a great deal of benefit to the community. It can involve all levels of the community and approach the basic causes of some of our major causes of chronic disease and disability, hospital admissions, pain and suffering. It can involve our local food production, food purchasing, food preparation and how to eat right at less cost. It can be taught at all levels and need not cost a great deal . It can be built into festivals, school activities and everyday living. It would be interesting if Oliver with the agreement of the local food industry could lower the salt in prepared food to meet the standards seen in the USA and UK and …..then promote their efforts and become known for what they have accomplished. I would hope that SO General Hospital, all the schools and public facilities are already reducing salt in food preparation. The difference that would be made in reduction of high blood pressure and heart disease could be measured as a tangible outcome.

3) Physical activity/Exercise and the idea of Fitness Stations around the Park and on the Canal. Again, this initiative can attract all members of the community together with the young and old. It can make exercise fun, free and each one deciding on there limits. There are grants available for the equipment, upkeep and maintenance are low and could develop good exercise habits for many. This initiative if heavily broadcasted could have good outcomes. Exercise or lack thereof is a major cause of many chronic diseases and any attempt to improve the exercise habits of the individuals in the community will not only improve their health but the well-being of the community as a whole. It can improve such things as mental health too and at the same time make individuals aware of other factors such as the environment – remarkable what you see and hear when you are out walking. We are blessed with a most scenic area to live, a great climate and a profusion of colour and wildlife which we can enjoy most on a good walk around town and on our many pathways and through our lovely parks while getting healthy.

Here again along with the fitness stations and promotion of walking as an activity/exercise we need to get children walking to school early through the promotion of the walking bus. If one bus per neighbourhood could be promoted it would be a big step forward.

4) Transportation was the fourth area and one which always gets attention and has little to do with health outcomes.
What are the gaps in the system – goals to be met?

Many gaps in the system were recognized and listed throughout the forum. Once the above initiatives are addressed the plan is to move along to the many others that were recognized. As I stated earlier my concern is that we need to put most of our efforts into the young as they are the ones who will benefit most and will in time create the change. The three starting initiatives listed above will serve the whole community and can be tailored to the young.

One pillar I could see where legislation could be of value is the healthy built environments. Oliver has done a good deal in this area but could do more by promoting geo thermal, solar energy use and the use of LEED standards in construction of developments and individual homes.

The goals are the content of the five pillars which can be as big or as small as determined by the community.

“How will the community react?”

This kind of effort is never that exciting for the community! There will be the usual detractors who will say that the efforts are useless and any money spent should be spent on something else however, if the change can occur it will be VERY worthwhile! Even if one only gets more awareness of what are the fundamentals to healthy living it is worthwhile. Most people do not spend a lot of time thinking about their health until they have not got it or someone close to them has lost some portion of it. Everyday life has a habit of overtaking us therefore it is essential that some of these habits of good food, exercise and activity be built in to our life so that we resort to them without thinking and realize we do not feel good without them. We need to build awareness of the assets we have in Oliver which can assist in this quest.

“Who will pay the costs?”

Some grants can be sought to cover coats of those items requiring purchase. However, publicity, word of mouth and developing a way of thinking and acting can go a long way to doing most health promotion which is what this action is! We need to get out there an use our assets. As Lalonde said in the preface to New Perspectives – “Good health is the bedrock on which social progress is built” and —healthy people can do those things that make life worthwhile, and as the level of health increases so does the potential for happiness”.  I might add that so does the level of productivity and accomplishments of individuals and communities.
How can a community face health issues?

A community can face health issues firstly by preventing them!! They can further reduce them through health promotion, health protection and lifestyle. Some monies will have to be spent at the front end
as the Scandinavian countries found through increased attention to prenatal health , children’s health and early childhood education but in the end you have healthier more productive adults who in turn produce healthier children who learn and are more productive. There is also, resultant less crime and a happier community with less illness and less costs to the system.

Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen