Happy World No Tobacco Day!

Eastern Health today joined with health care authorities and community organizations around the world to mark World No Tobacco Day.

Smoking is not permitted in buildings in buildings, parking lots, in vehicles or anywhere on Eastern Health grounds. This includes the use of other tobacco products such as chew or snuff tobacco. The goal of the smoke free policy is to create a tobacco and smoke free environment for employees, patients, clients, residents, visitors and volunteers in keeping with Eastern Health’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities.

Eastern Health’s other programs such as Born Smoke Free and The Story of Smoke Free target women and children’s groups in particular.

Between 20 and 30 per cent of women use tobacco during pregnancy, and of those who quit, approximately 70 per cent resume smoking after the birth of their babies. The goal of the Born Smoke Free initiative is to promote a smoke free environment for newborns and their families. In partnership with the provincial Department of Health and Community Services and Community Health Nurses, Eastern Health provides resource materials to help parents protect newborns, and their family as a whole, from the dangers of second hand smoke.

In addition, the program provides information and support to assist parents who want to quit smoking. This assistance can be provided to families during both pre and post-natal visits.

The Story of Smoke Free was introduced in Kindergarten and Grade One classes throughout the Eastern Health region in 2006. To celebrate World No Tobacco Day, Kindergarten and Grade 1 classroom teachers were invited to register for The Story of Smoke Free program. Teachers receive a storybook, a CD-ROM, tattoos and stickers to promote the smoke free message. A record 61 schools in the eastern region have registered to participate in this program.

Getting There

We've just set up a number of focus group sessions.  From June 13 to June 22, we'll be holding 8 focus groups.  Some of these will be with family physicians only.  For others, we have invited community stakeholders/partners, health providers in the community and municipal leaders to attend.  Hopefully, we will get good turnout.  The more feedback we have, the better we will be able to respond to concerns. 

After this round of focus groups, we'll spend some time talking to physicians in our acute care and long-term care facilities and staff in this region. 

Which month is it?

The simple answer is May.  But there's more to this month than meets the eye!  It is:

- Cystic Fibrosis Month

- National Physiotherapy Month

- Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

- National Nursing Week - May10-16

- World No Tobacco Day - May 31

In fact, most months are also health-related months.  These help to promote a particular cause or organization.  Often, there are special events related to the month being celebrated.  So, the next time you think of the month, check out the health-related information that's being promoted - you will probably learn something very valuable.

Submissions Requested

Eastern Health is conducting a community health needs assessment in the Discovery Zone region, which includes the area from Bonavista to Port Blandford to Swift Current to Chapel Arm.

The purpose of a needs assessment is to gather information about the health needs and resources of a community to determine the issues that are most important and to develop a plan to address those priorities. A health needs assessment looks at the factors that determine the health of a community, from income and education to physical and social environments.

Written submissions (either hard copy or electronic) about the health needs of the Discovery Zone are invited from individuals, community partners and service organizations.

Submissions should be received by June 11, 2010 to:

Lisa Browne
Planning Specialist
Eastern Health
50A Manitoba Drive
Clarenville, NL
A1A 1K5
Phone (709) 466-5863
Fax: (709) 466-6343
email: lisa.browne@easternhealth.ca

Celebrating Municipal Awareness Day

May 19 is Municipal Awareness Day.  Throughout our discussions with people in the region, we have heard about the importance of municipal infrastructure.  For example, some communities in this area have been on boil water advisories for quite some time.  This is not only annoying to people but they are also concerned about using the water for cooking and cleaning purposes.  In other communities, water quality is quite high.  Recreation is another aspect that comes out when discussing community health and well-being.  Some communities have infrastructure such as parks and trails that can help to keep people healthy while other communities do not.  On this Municipal Awareness Day, think about the services offered by your community.  What's working well and what needs to be improved?

Optimism in Norman's Cove-Long Cove/Chapel Arm Area

Our discussion with community partners in the Norman's Cove-Long Cove/Chapel Arm area oozed with optimism!  The community is very proud of all of the services available in the area and in particular, with the strong levels of volunteerism in their communities.  One participant indicated that entire families volunteer to make things happen in the community.  They also spoke about the positive impacts of the Vale Inco work that is ongoing in the Long Harbour area.  They feel that retail outlets are benefiting and many homeowners are renting or boarding workers so there's an economic impact for them as well.

An Advisory Committee Member's Perspective

I recently asked members of the Needs Assessment Advisory Committee about their experience sitting on the committee so far.  Here's Barbara Humby's response:

I decided to apply to sit on the Advisory Committee because I know with the employment conditions surrounding our area and being a single parent, what a impact that can have on your health.  My experience so far as a member of Advisory Committee has been very interesting and rewarding. I didn't really know what to expect but I'm glad that I did join. I can see things more clearly and now I have a better understanding on several different issues.

Barb has been a great contributor to the Advisory Committee!

How Are You Celebrating?

Today is Canada Health Day.  It's celebrated every year on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.


What are you doing to celebrate?  Consider:

• going for a walk
• take a hike in the woods
• hop on your bike
• play a game of tag with your children
• try a new fruit or vegetable you've never had before

Talking with Janet

To oversee the needs assessment, we have established a Steering Committee made up of Eastern Health employees.  One of the people who sits on the committee is Janet Fisher who work in Primary Health Care in Bonavista.  Janet is also a member of the Advisory Committee, made up of community residents.  We recently asked her thoughts on being a part of the Advisory Committee.

As a member of the Steering Committee, I volunteered to be part of the Advisory Committee because I work closely with community groups in my area.  I'm looking forward to learning more about the process and meeting people in the region who I may work with in the future.  I believe in community development and community capacity building and I hope that once a final report is written we can work together with community partners to enhance health and wellness in our communities.  So far I'm enjoying my experience as a member of the Advisory Committee especially hearing people's stories.  Our discussions thus far certainly highlight the diversity within our region.

During one focus group recently, there was a discussion about the positive things that are happening in our communities.  During that conversation, one person remarked that it's impressive how many positive things are going on but we don't often stop to think of them.  This is so true.  It's important to stop and think about the good things in your life.  It helps to promote a positive attitude and good mental health.  What's going right in your community?

A Visit to Norman's Cove-Long Cove

At a focus group at Norman's Cove-Long Cove last night, community members talked about aging communities and the impact that it has on people and a community as a whole.  They also spoke about a vibrant voluntary sector and the importance that volunteers bring to a community.  People are proud of the services they have available in their town:  from Moving 4 Health to square dancing to cadets to walking trails. We had a good discussion about health concerns in the area.  Last night was a beautiful evening and it was wonderful for these people to come out to talk about the health of their community.

Talking with Municipal Leaders in the Isthmus Area

Last night's discussion with municipal leaders in the Isthmus area went very well.  Much of the discussion was focused on family doctors.  Currently, the Isthmus area has two family doctors and communities are concerned with recruitment of new physicians when and if the two current physicians retire.  The municipal leaders in the room felt that this will have a major impact on their communities and the quality of life available to citizens.

Headed to the Isthmus

More focus groups today and then again on Thursday evening.  We are now focused on the Isthmus area of the Discovery Zone.  Today, we are having sessions with community partners and tonight with municipal leaders.  On Thursday, it's another session with community partners.   We try to provide different times, locations and dates to get as many people as possible.  The most we've had in a focus group was 16 and the smallest was 1 so there is quite a range!  We'll see what today brings!

A Great Afternoon with the Women's Institute

Over the weekend, we were invited to attend a Women's Institute meeting consisting of clubs on the Bonavista Peninsula to Harcourt to speak about the needs assessment process.  It was an excellent opportunity to learn about the Women's Institute and to enjoy an outstanding potluck lunch!

The aim of the Women's Institute, as noted on their website, is: 

The present day Newfoundland and Labrador Women’s Institutes is an informal, educational organization for women to work together to expand their skills, broaden their interests, plan meetings, workshops and conferences, and strengthen the quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities.

The meeting certainly seemed to reflect this aim.  Participants brought along many of the crafts that they had been working on and seemed to thoroughly enjoy each other's friendship.  For Eastern Health, it was an opportunity to let people know how to participate in the needs assessment process.