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Health and Community Services
December 5, 2012

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Individuals Improving Health Their Way with Chronic Disease
Self-Management Program

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to promote awareness of our provincial chronic disease self-management program. Improving Health: My Way was launched in December 2011 with the release of the Provincial Chronic Disease Policy Framework.

Improving Health: My Way is a free, six-week program offered by each of the four regional health authorities. Anyone with a chronic health condition is welcome to attend, and may also bring a family member or friend. Workshops run for two and a half hours a week and are hosted by trained workshop leaders, who themselves have a chronic health condition. The program covers topics such as nutrition; proper use of medications; appropriate exercises for strength and flexibility; communicating effectively with family, friends and health care professionals; and, techniques for dealing with pain and fatigue.

Mr. Speaker, our government invested $500,000 for training, program delivery and evaluation to implement this program and will continue to fund this initiative on an annual basis. We have also provided $300,000 to improve access to services for people with diabetes living in remote areas of the province using telehealth equipment; established a network for health professionals to assist people living with chronic pain; and, funded several community groups that have developed initiatives to focus on chronic health conditions.

To date, 345 people with conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain, heart disease and many other chronic diseases have participated in this program in 44 communities across the province. These individuals have learned new skills to allow them to feel more confident in managing their conditions on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker we recognize that there is a strong need for this program given our high rates of chronic disease and I encourage people to participate. We know from our early feedback, that individuals are receiving great support and are leaving feeling better able to manage their chronic condition.

Mr. Speaker, the Improving Health: My Way program is designed to enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education such as cardiac rehabilitation or diabetes education and is especially helpful for individuals with more than one chronic health condition. To learn more, individuals can call the self-management coordinator in their health region or the provincial HealthLine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2012 12 05                        2:25 p.m.

 
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