NLIS 2
November 6, 2002
(Health and Community Services)

 

Minister announces Provincial Wellness Advisory Council

Gerald Smith, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced the appointment of members to the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council.

The Provincial Wellness Advisory Council is an advisory body to provide advice and guidance to the Minister of Health and Community Services on the development and implementation of the wellness strategy as outlined in government�s strategic health plan, Healthier Together.

"I am very pleased to have such a high calibre group of people working together to advise me and officials from my department on the direction of a wellness strategy for our province," said Minister Smith. "These individuals bring expertise from their respective fields which will help us develop a wellness strategy that is both appropriate and practical for Newfoundland and Labrador."

The council is comprised of members from 26 non-governmental and governmental agencies. Government is pleased to bring together such a diverse group of organizations, all working toward a common goal - to improve the health and well-being of the people of this province. "In one way or another, all of the groups represented on this council have been working to raise awareness about the importance of healthy living practices," said Minister Smith. "Now, we are all coming together to work towards enhancing capacity within this province to support the health and well-being of the people of our province."

Minister Smith introduced Dr. Catherine Donovan, principal investigator with the Newfoundland and Labrador Heart Health Program and medical officer of health with Health and Community Services Eastern, as the chair of the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council. "I am delighted that Dr. Donovan has agreed to chair this council," said Minister Smith. "Dr. Donovan�s expertise and leadership skills will help move the work of the council in the right direction."

"Direction and long-term commitment are essential to improving the health of people in this province, and the Strategic Health Plan, which recognizes wellness as a priority, is an important step forward in this effort," said Dr. Donovan.

Wellness is an overarching theme of government�s strategic health plan. To create a system which is sustainable and supportive of health and well-being, the focus of Newfoundland and Labrador�s health and community services system needs to be shifted from one of illness to wellness. Four key areas have been identified to further work around wellness in this province. They are health promotion, injury and illness prevention, health protection, and child and youth development.

"There are a number of strong initiatives already in place in Newfoundland and Labrador to support our work on wellness," said Minister Smith. "I will look to this new council to help me identify means by which we can maximize the resources we already have in place and build upon the good work already being done within communities throughout the province."

Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

Provincial Wellness Advisory Council
Membership

Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT)
Todd Benson

Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador
Christine McLean

Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
Pegi Earle

Association of Allied Health Professionals
Karen Giannou

Canadian Cancer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
Peter Dawe

Canadian Diabetes Association Newfoundland and Labrador
Carol Ann Smith

Canadian Mental Health Association
Frankie O�Neill

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
Paula Mullins

Lung Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
Peg Johnson

Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Doreen Neville

Newfoundland and Labrador Heart Health Project
Dr. Catherine Donovan, Chair

Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities
Herbert Brett

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Boards Association
Ann Manning

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
Robert Ritter

Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Recreation Association
Sean McKenna

Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association
John Dollimount

Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association
Claudette Coombs

Newfoundland Dietetic Association
Margaret Ewtushik

Newfoundland Public Health Association
Rosemarie Goodyear

Department of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Dr. Glenn Loveless

Department of Environment, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Tara Barnable

Department of Government Services and Lands, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Ivy Burt

Department of Health and Community Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Eleanor Swanson

Department of Human Resources and Employment, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Ed Hayden

Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
David Doyle

Strategic Social Plan, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Doris Hancock

2002 11 06                                      11:25 a.m. 


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