Minister receives recommendations from Provincial Wellness Advisory Council

Gerald Smith, Minister of Health and Community Services, today met with the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council for a presentation on the council�s recommendations for a provincial wellness strategy. The group recently presented the minister with its framework document which outlines recommendations on advancing wellness initiatives within the province.

"The council has completed a significant amount of work thus far, and I am very pleased to receive its recommendations," said Minister Smith. "I have shared this work with our stakeholders and other government departments for review and feedback. This feedback, together with the recommendations of the council, will enable my officials to outline a strategy and action plan for government to move forward on the wellness agenda."

The council, through its recommendations, identified a number of priority action areas, which include healthy living, healthy environments, mental health promotion, injury prevention, chronic disease prevention, health protection and child and youth development. Recommendations for each of these wellness priority areas will be presented in a series of Wellness Papers. The first three papers - healthy living for children and youth, healthy environments, and mental health promotion - were presented, along with the framework document, to the minister.

Minister Smith commended Dr. Catherine Donovan, chair of the council, for her leadership throughout the last year and her commitment to continue working with the council.

"The work of the Wellness Council has certainly been a collaborative process as we have numerous organizations from across the province involved," said Dr. Donovan. "We look forward to continuing our work on the remaining wellness priority areas, and seeing our work reflected in government�s wellness strategy and action plan."

During the meeting, the minister also provided a progress update on Healthier Together, the provincial strategic health plan. Minister Smith commented specifically on the progress of the following initiatives:

• Provincial Mental Health Services Strategy - The terms of reference for the strategy�s development phase have been approved and circulated to key stakeholders. The strategy team is in place and a departmental reference group has been established to oversee the work of the strategy. The final strategy will be complemented by legislative reforms.

• Primary Health Care Strategy - The Primary Health Care Advisory Committee is finalizing it framework document following province-wide consultations. The expressions of interest process has been completed and the committee is now actively working with seven sites across the province to begin the implementation phase. Government has received $9.7 million over four years from the federal Primary Health Care Transition Fund to assist with planning, implementing and evaluating primary health care projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.

• Long-term Care and Supportive Services Strategy - The Long-term Care and Supportive Services Strategy has been launched with a call for proposals. Current initiatives underway which will support the work of this strategy include a home support review, residential options for youth review, personal care home review and call for expressions of interest related to private sector partnerships to establish a long-term care centre in Corner Brook.

"Since the release of Healthier Together only a year ago, government has made significant progress to date; development work on four out of five of our major strategies has been started," said Minister Smith. "As well, we have put mechanisms in place to ensure linkages exist between each of the strategy areas so that the overall goals of Healthier Together can be met. We will continue to work with stakeholders, such as our Provincial Wellness Advisory Council, to improve the health and well-being of the people of our province."

The Provincial Wellness Advisory Council is a 26-member body with provincial representation of various non-government and government organizations. The role of the council is to provide advice and guidance to the Minister of Health and Community Services on the development and implementation of a provincial wellness strategy.

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

2003 09 18                                       3:35 p.m.