The Canadian Public Health Association’s inaugural Canadian Public Health Week starts today and runs until Friday. While many people have become more aware of public health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, there really is even more to its work than mass vaccination campaigns and outbreak management. Public health agencies, like the Middlesex-London Health Unit, play the role of unseen guardians, always on the lookout for the public health issues that can affect the community, and working diligently to address them.
With its theme of Public Health Matters, Canadian Public Health Week aspires to recognize the contributions of public health agencies, while bringing attention to the critical issues that improve our overall health and wellbeing. The week also aims to bring attention to the critical link between public health and the local organizations, agencies and communities it serves.
“Canadian Public Health Week provides an opportunity for local public health to focus on the ways we work collaboratively to promote and protect the health of our community,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “The success of our efforts depends very much on the support and involvement of our residents, local organizations and agencies, and the different levels of government. We are grateful to have them as partners.”
“The week also allows us to feature the tremendous work of our staff at a time when public health has been called upon to go above and beyond expectations to meet the challenges of the pandemic,” says Emily Williams, CEO with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “Public health has provided that consistent and reassuring presence during an unprecedented time, adjusting quickly to meet the needs of our community.”
The Middlesex-London Health Unit offers a wide range of programs and services to individuals and families who live in London and Middlesex County. These are outlined in the Health Protection and Promotion Act and are provided according to a set of guidelines called the Ontario Public Health Standards. These programs include:
- Communicable disease control
- Food safety
- Home visiting
- Infection prevention and control
- Inspection of food premises, personal service settings, pools, licensed childcare, small drinking water systems, and others
- Oral health
- Physical activity promotion
- Pre-natal education, programs and services
- School health
- Tobacco control
- Vaccination
- Vector-Borne Disease control
- and many more
For more information about the Middlesex-London Health Unit visit www.healthunit.com. For more information about Canadian Public Health Week and events visit www.cpha.ca/cphw.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317, extension 2469 of 519-617-0570 (cell)
Spokespeople:
Dr. Alex Summers, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Emily Williams, CEO, Middlesex-London Health Unit