26 Nov 2008
Funding support needed for alcohol and drug programs
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is calling on the province to continue funding for its two alcohol and drug misuse awareness programs.
The funding that supports RISK in Muskoka and Think Clear in Simcoe County is set to expire in March 2009. The grants have helped programs
such as the Safe Roads; Your Call initiative, which promotes phoning 911 when people feel they have witnessed impaired driving; municipal alcohol policy workshops; high school awareness campaigns and
workshops on crystal meth and crack cocaine for health professionals.
A push for healthier community design
Members of the Simcoe Muskoka District Board of Health have been recruited to promote improvements to infrastructure that support active forms of transportation within their municipalities.
“A walkable community is an environment that supports walking as a form of everyday transportation,” said Pat Schneider, public health
nurse with the healthy lifestyle program. “People identify time as a barrier to physical activity, but walking to school or work or to do errands allows people a way to incorporate physical activity into their lives every day.”
She added that inadequate physical activity is putting two-thirds of the adult Canadian population at risk of heart disease, diabetes and
other related illnesses, and creates long-term health risks for children.
Board of health members shared the efforts within their local municipalities to improve the “walkability” of their communities. Since Board of Health members are leaders in their communities, they are
in a terrific position to speak out for increasing opportunities for the
communities of Simcoe Muskoka to be physically active.
New role for health unit in water systems
New regulations for Ontario’s small drinking water systems will be coming into effect on Dec. 1, adding new responsibilities to both the owners of those systems and the health unit.
Jerry Capko, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s manager of safe water, explained that the new regulations affect an estimated 1,440 drinking water supplies serving trailer parks, community centres,
restaurants, churches, recreational parks and similar facilities in Simcoe and Muskoka.
Specially trained public health inspectors will visit all small systems in the region over a two-year period. The visits entail assessing the systems as well as educating the owners or operators of those
systems about their responsibilities to keep their supplies safe through regular monitoring and sampling of the water. Information for small water
system operators is provided on the health unit’s website at
www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
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