Public Health in Focus
Public Health in Focus is a newsletter by Public Health Sudbury & Districts to inform our community on the public health issues of the day and is issued following our regular Board of Health meetings.
Words for Thought
September 2024
The role of public health advocacy
Last month, Canada took a significant step in advancing public health by banning the sale of flavoured nicotine pouches in convenience stores and gas stations (Health Canada). This decision highlights the impact of public health advocacy and the crucial role local boards of health play in shaping policies that promote health.
When it comes to the sale of nicotine products, especially those that are flavoured and appeal to youth, our agency has been essential in bringing attention to their risks. In April 2024, the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts joined several other boards of health in calling for stronger regulation of nicotine pouch sales and promotion, especially regarding youth use. The subsequent legislation and recent Government of Canada announcement mirror exactly the call of our Board of Health and its colleagues. It is a great success story of public health advocacy, and how motions by our Board of Health can contribute to real policy changes that improve health locally.
By focusing on prevention, taking upstream approaches, and pushing for evidence-based policy changes, public health professionals are building healthier communities and creating a lasting impact on population health. Whether it’s through tobacco control, the promotion of physical activity, or the response to infectious diseases, our efforts are key to ensuring that public health remains a priority at all levels of government. Together, we are building a healthier future for everyone.
M. Mustafa Hirji MD, MPH, FRCPC
Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
Need to do
Stay safe and healthy this fall!
Earlier this month, the 2024–2025 season’s first four confirmed infections of influenza virus were reported in our service area. While it is too early to know if this year’s influenza season is starting early, these four infections are a concerning sign that this might be the case.
Protect yourself and others from infection
- Wear a well-fitted mask in crowded indoor public settings.
- Improve the ventilation in indoor spaces by keeping windows open, when possible, and having heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems set to “on” rather than “auto”.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard used tissues immediately in the garbage, and then wash your hands.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 15 seconds.
Many viruses cause respiratory infections. It can be difficult to know which illness you have based on symptoms. No matter the cause of infection, if you have symptoms, please follow these steps to protect those around you:
- Stay home (self-isolate) until you have no fever, your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea), and you do not develop any additional symptoms.
- Wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in all public settings once out of self-isolation and until 10 full days following the start of your symptoms. This is in addition to following any other precautions.
- Use the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 self-assessment and learn more about testing and treatment (if eligible).
Public Health provides information about local activity levels of respiratory illness.
For the latest advice and updates, follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter) and visit our website. Don’t forget to share this information with friends and family.
Need to know
This month, we are pleased to share our 2023 Financial Report, which documents revenue sources and operating expenses, and complements the highlights we profiled last spring, underscoring our community commitment and responsiveness.
Download the 2023 Financial Report
We strive for health equity by championing equal opportunities for health.
Public Health joins the Greater Sudbury Police Service Relay for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Once again, Public Health will join the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) and partnering agencies to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
We are proud to take part in the 3rd Annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Relay, hosted by the Greater Sudbury Police Service in partnership with Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre. This event is more than just a relay; it’s an opportunity to “raise awareness, foster understanding, and demonstrate our commitment to addressing the legacy of residential schools in Canada.”
Public Health staff and Board of Health members were encouraged to get involved in this meaningful initiative. From September 1 to 24, participants contribute by walking, running, biking, swimming, or engaging in any activity that promotes physical and mental well-being. It’s a chance to come together as a community, recognize the harms of the past, and take active steps towards reconciliation.
By participating in this event, we demonstrate our commitment to our strategic priority of equal opportunities for health by supporting awareness, education, advocacy, and policy development to address the root causes of health inequities.
We strive for ongoing excellence in local public health practice, including demonstrating accountability and monitoring the effectiveness, impact, and quality of our programs and services.
Exploring AI in Public Health
On June 18, our agency hosted an internal Artificial Intelligence (AI) Think Tank, bringing together staff from across the organization to dive into the future of AI in public health. The event featured two guest speakers: Dr. Steven Rebellato from Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and Dr. Kyle Wilson from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. Both experts shared insights on how their respective public health units have integrated AI into their operations, highlighting the potential benefits and lessons learned along the way.
Public Health staff had the opportunity to provide input on how AI could enhance local public health services—sharing their perspectives on the opportunities, challenges, and what they view as necessary for the agency to be able to incorporate AI into its services.
Looking ahead
Public Health is in the process of developing an AI strategy for the agency. The plan is to bring subject matter experts on board to help us identify practical AI solutions tailored to the needs of public health.
Stay tuned as we explore how AI can transform the way we deliver public health services!
Food safety checks
In July, a food product recall (Health Canada) prompted public health inspectors to conduct checks of 119 local premises. All affected establishments had been notified and subsequently had removed the recalled products from sale. The recalled food products included plant-based milk due to possible contamination with Listeria.
Food recalls like this remind us of the importance of public awareness and compliance to regulation in maintaining food safety.
You can sign up to receive recall alerts from the Government of Canada.
Subscribe now for recall alerts
Through a variety of Public Health services, we see our strategic priority of Excellence in public health practice in action for clients, communities, and stakeholders.
We establish relationships that lead to impactful partnerships, collaborations, and engagement.
Promoting active school travel
Over the summer, Public Health staff partnered with a local municipality to engage two school boards and their administrators in discussions about the benefits of active school travel. These conversations are part of an ongoing effort by the Active School Travel Planning Collaborative, which includes representation from the Sudbury Student Services Consortium, Rainbow District School Board, Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord, the City of Greater Sudbury, and Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
Active school travel refers to the practice of walking, biking, or using other active modes of transportation to get to and from school. By encouraging more students to walk or cycle to school, we aim to boost their daily physical activity, improve overall well-being, and foster healthy habits that can last a lifetime. From reducing traffic congestion to supporting mental and physical health, the benefits of active school travel ripple through our communities in many ways. The group will continue working together to promote active school travel initiatives.
Welcoming students this fall
Public Health offers a variety of interdisciplinary placement opportunities for post-secondary students. Our placement students benefit from a variety of experiences while working alongside public health nurses, health promoters, public health inspectors, epidemiologists, as well as a variety of other professionals.
This fall term, we are thrilled to ramp up our student placements and provide more opportunities for emerging professionals in various fields. We are excited to welcome eight confirmed student placements from a variety of health programs. Our students include Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students from Laurentian University and Cambrian College, along with students specializing in dietetics, biomedical biology, and nurse practitioner programs.
Looking ahead
In addition to these longer-term placements, we are arranging short-term placements for 6 dental hygiene students and between 15 and 18 paramedic students from College Boréal. These students will gain valuable hands-on experience while contributing to the important work we do in Public Health. We look forward to supporting these future health professionals as they embark on their learning journeys!
This work is grounded by our strategic priority of Impactful relationships. Though this work, we are collaborating in a way that is meaningful to identify, plan, implement, and evaluate initiatives and services to work toward improving the health of the population.
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This item was last modified on October 15, 2024