NLIS 3 March 8, 2006 (Health and Community Services) Government encourages Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to go healthy Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer today encouraged all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to go healthy with the launch of government�s new Provincial Wellness Plan. The plan, which focuses on improving the health of the population and helping all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians achieve their optimal state of wellness, builds on the work of six regional wellness coalitions and the Provincial Wellness Advisory Committee, which comprises a broad range of government departments, professional associations and community groups. "The launch of our new Provincial Wellness Plan is a progressive step forward in helping to promote healthy eating habits, a balanced lifestyle and active living to all residents of the province," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Our province is known as one of the unhealthiest in the country and we are committed to changing that. Through continued partnership of key stakeholders, we will work over the next three years to educate the public on the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle and to support them in making the important first step to improving overall health and wellness." Phase I of the plan will be implemented over the next three years and will focus on some key areas, including: healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco control, and injury prevention. This will be done through strengthened partnerships, public awareness, health promotion and evaluation. Phase II will consider other wellness priority areas such as mental health promotion, child and youth development, environmental health and health protection. A new web site, www.gohealthy.ca, will promote the Provincial Wellness Plan and will include tips on active living, healthy eating, injury prevention and being smoke-free. The site will also link to six regional wellness coalitions where people can track, on a regular basis, the events and activities happening in their region of the province. "When people think of our health system, they often focus on acute and long-term care needs," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Our government committed $2.4 million in last year�s budget for a wellness strategy, the largest cash investment in health promotion in the history of our province. However, educating the public on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle is a shared responsibility. There are many partners in health and we all have a role to play in implementing the actions required to improve wellness in our province." Through the Provincial Wellness Plan, government will continue to seek and create opportunities to build and strengthen its partnerships to support the actions for wellness. These partners include: the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council, Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT), Regional Wellness Coalitions, youth, seniors and injury prevention stakeholders. In addition, government will continue to strengthen and expand existing efforts and develop new initiatives for wellness; increase public awareness through a new social marketing strategy and enhance capacity for health promotion. "Our health challenges are significant in this province but we have a reputation for creativity in facing challenges," said Dr. Cathy Donovan, chair of the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council. "This plan, to promote health and wellness, builds on the work of many individuals, groups and communities; it provides a common direction and a commitment to the sustained action we need to improve health for everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador." Specific initiatives to be rolled out in the next three years include: Government invested $2.4 million in Budget 2005 to support a wellness strategy �� the largest single cash infusion in health promotion in the history of the province. Unlike acute health care which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of individual patients, public health focuses on communities and populations for the prevention of disease, promotion of health and protection of the public. Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-1377, 685-1741
BACKGROUNDER Members of the Provincial Wellness
Advisory Council: Regional Wellness Coalitions: 2006 03 08 12:30 p.m. |
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