October 30, 2008

NEW HEALTH-CARE TEAMS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION ACROSS MANITOBA: IRVIN-ROSS

More than $2.8 million in new funding will be invested to create teams of healthy living professionals to address chronic disease prevention and promote healthy living services across the province, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today.

“Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and asthma are leading causes of illness, disability and poor quality of life,” said Irvin-Ross. “This team-based approach will allow highly skilled wellness specialists to help Manitobans guard against disease and increase awareness of healthy living initiatives that can reduce the risk of chronic illness.”

Funding has been provided to each of Manitoba’s regional health authorities to create community teams across the province. In total, approximately 44 new health professionals will be hired across Manitoba to strengthen disease-prevention services and boost healthy living awareness.

The new teams will deliver a range of services including:
· enhancing regional and community capacity for healthy living initiatives including physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation and mental health;
· expanding regional diabetes assessment and treatment programs across the province including First Nation and Métis communities;
· working with high-risk groups to promote chronic disease prevention and wellness;
· supporting prevention and health promotion initiatives such as Manitoba in motion, Healthy Schools, Get Better Together! and the Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative.

“Teams of health-care providers will work with patients to provide a wide range of information about disease prevention and management,” said Kathy McPhail, chief executive officer of the Central Regional Health Authority. “I know this team will work together to help individuals and communities in our region better understand how they can make healthier choices in their lives and better maintain their health.”

The minister also noted the province is providing $300,000 over two years to the Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks General Hospital to co-ordinate and support the delivery of the Get Better Together! program across the province.

“Research has shown that programs like Get Better Together! give people with a chronic disease needed information and supports so they can maintain their health and manage their condition,” said Irvin-Ross. “These kinds of programs result not only in better health outcomes but also improved quality of life for people with chronic conditions.”

“People with multiple chronic conditions face real barriers to making healthy lifestyle choices. If you are in pain or chronically fatigued, it’s that much more difficult to be physically active,” said Carrie Solmundson, chief operating officer of Seven Oaks General Hospital. “The good news for health care is that the positive steps participants of the Get Better Together! program make to take charge of their health have been shown to prevent hospitalization. That’s good for the participants and good for efficient use of health-care resources.”