March 24, 2016 – Peterborough Public Health
In compliance with the Ontario Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, a listing of Peterborough Public Health’s salaries and benefits exceeding $100,000 for 2015 has been posted on Public Health’s website and is available from the link below:
2015 Public Sector Salary Disclosure
March 17, 2016 – This week Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra declared a community-wide influenza outbreak in Peterborough due to a recent increase in the number of confirmed local cases.
“We now have had influenza outbreaks at four long term care homes in our area, and have seen an increased number of patients presenting at the PRHC Emergency Department with influenza-like illness,” said Dr. Salvaterra. “While this may seem like a late for the spread of influenza to peak, it’s not unusual for flu season to last until April.”
Dr. Salvaterra noted that lab-confirmed cases have indicated that both Influenza A and Influenza B strains are circulating. One long-term care facility has both.
“The good news is that this year’s vaccine is a strong match with circulating strains and protects against both A and B strains,” she said. Dr. Salvaterra noted that all of the long-term care homes in outbreak have instructed staff who did not get the flu shot to take antiviral medication. “Antivirals can be effective as a second line treatment to prevent influenza spread when outbreaks occur or to treat an influenza infection, if used early. Hopefully, most caregivers have been immunized but if not, antivirals, masks and good hand washing can help protect those who are vulnerable.”
Influenza can be fatal for immunocompromised patients. But for most healthy individuals, they are able to weather the virus and will not require a visit to the doctor. For those who are feeling unwell, Dr. Salvaterra recommends that you stay home to avoid spreading the virus.
For more information about infection control and influenza, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and click on “Immunization” and then “Influenza”.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
March 16, 2016 – Design Ways to Help Kids and Adults Master Active Living Skills for Life
Educators, Sport and Recreation Providers Invited to Physical Literacy Summit on April 15 & 16
What is Physical Literacy?
“Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” – The International Physical Literacy Association, May 2014
Understanding what prevents many kids from remaining active as they grow up will be the focus of the upcoming Central East Physical Literacy Summit taking place April 15-16, 2016 in Peterborough. The event starts Friday evening and resumes Saturday morning at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront.
The summit will explore and expand participants’ understanding of physical literacy. Running, hopping, kicking, catching and throwing are just some of the fundamental movement skills that children need to be physically literate. Without the development of physical literacy, many children and youth withdraw from physical activity and sport. “To stay active as we age, it’s important that we feel comfortable in any activity setting, and that comfort comes from feeling confident in our abilities to master fundamental movements,” said Eugene Todd, co-chair of the Central East Physical Literacy Project.
The Summit promises to be a terrific learning and networking opportunity for community sport and recreation leaders, elementary and secondary teachers, child and youth workers, early childhood educators, coaches, recreation programmers from municipal and not-for-profit groups, volunteers working with children and youth, health and health promotion professionals, post-secondary students and administrators.
The event is conference style, with delegates able to select four of 19 breakout workshop sessions over the two days. There will be two notable plenary presentations by experts: Friday’s keynote speaker is Dr. Dean Kriellaars, associate professor at the University of Manitoba, and renowned physical literacy expert and advocate. He will also lead several of the breakout sessions. Saturday’s plenary will feature Brandy Tanenbaum, program coordinator at the RBC First Office for Injury prevention, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on the topic of injury prevention, risk and resilience.
Early bird pricing ($64.20) ends March 24, and the cost for students to attend the summit is $32.40. Registration includes refreshments Friday night and Saturday morning, and light lunch on Saturday.
To register, click here or visit www.eventbrite.ca and search for “physical literacy 2016”. For more details, please contact Deanna Moher, Central East Physical Literacy Summit Coordinator at 705-772-8841 or info.ceplp@gmail.com.
The summit is hosted by the Central East Physical Literacy Project (CEPLP), a collaboration of agencies from Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County funded by an RBC Learn to Play Project Grant. Representatives from Peterborough Public Health, the City of Peterborough, the YMCA of Central East Ontario, and local school boards also serve on the CEPLP’s Leadership Committee.
RBC Learn to Play Project grants are funded by RBC and the Public Health Agency of Canada and delivered by ParticipACTION with support from Canadian Sport for Life.
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For further information, please contact:
Claire Townshend
Healthy Kids Community Challenge Project Coordinator
Peterborough Public Health
705-743-1000, ext. 355
March 15, 2016 – Local Agencies Invited to Join Mock Pandemic Response Exercise April 19
Community Organizations and Local Groups Encouraged to Take Part in Free Half-Day Table-Top Exercise
The Peterborough Public Health invites representatives from local agencies and community groups to participate in a large-scale human-health emergency related table-top exercise on Tuesday, April 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Evinrude Centre.
“This is a great opportunity for local organizations to test their pandemic response plans,” said Edwina Dusome, Manager of Infectious Disease Programs. “We hope to gather participants from as many sectors as possible so we can learn how to coordinate our community response to the next influenza pandemic.”
Participants will be led through a mock emergency scenario and will be asked to collaborate with community partners to:
This event is intended for organizational leaders and other professionals responsible for managing emergencies. It will be of particular relevance for those who represent the following sectors: transportation, health, emergency response, First Nations, social services, media, education, day care, long term care, funeral homes, faith-based groups, volunteer groups, personal support groups, vulnerable populations, utilities, industries, retail, group homes, pharmacies, animal services, financial institutions, agricultural sector, and local government.
To register, please visit click here or email zallen@peterboroughpublichealth.ca or call 705-743-1000, ext. 283 by March 31, 2016.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
March 11, 206 – To view the meeting summary from the March 9 Board of Health Meeting click the image below
March 9, 2016 – Edmison Heights Students Celebrate Healthy, Local Food During Nutrition Month
Today, Edmison Heights Public School students in grades 3-6 crunched down on Ontario Empire apples at 2:30 p.m. in synch with hundreds of thousands of students across the nation.
The Great Big Crunch is a synchronized bite into locally grown apples. “It’s a great way to celebrate our commitment to a healthy school,” says Glen Payne, Principal at the school. “Our school community of students, parents and staff have shown a remarkable dedication to healthy eating through their support of healthy fundraising activities, in-class lessons, and our breakfast program,” says Payne.
“March is Nutrition Month, which is a great time to celebrate making the healthy choice, the easy choice,” says Luisa Magalhaes, Registered Dietitian with Peterborough Public Health. “Students can more easily put into practice what they learn in class when fundraisers, class celebrations and Student Nutrition Program meals all reinforce the same healthy eating message.”
Today’s event was organized by the school’s Breakfast Program. Angela Fuchs, Food for Kids Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Program Coordinator, was on hand for the festivities. “Local food is so important to our programs,” says Fuchs. “It is good for our families and our farmers, uses less fuel to get to us, and tastes great. The Great Big Crunch is another way to teach students that local food benefits everyone.”
In 2015, more than 1200 local volunteers served almost 2.4 million breakfasts and snacks to hungry students. This year, Peterborough and County breakfast programs received a bi-weekly delivery of Ontario apples, cucumbers, carrots and cheese, made possible through generous donations and grants awarded to Food for Kids.
For more info: www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/ffk or #greatbigcrunch.
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For further information, please contact:
Luisa Magalhaes, MHSc, RD
Public Health Nutritionist
(705) 743-1000, ext. 233
Board of Health Meets March 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Selwyn Township Office
Media and the community are advised that the Board of Health will meet on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Selwyn Township Office, 1310 Centre Line Smith Ward, Selwyn, Ontario.
Free parking is available on site.
To download the agenda and the online board package, please visit:
http://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/about-us/about-us-2/board-of-health/meeting-agendas
The meeting is open to the community and members of the media.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391
March 1, 2016 – Campaign Geared at Making Simple Changes One Meal at a Time
As Nutrition Month gets underway today for the month of March, Registered Dietitians at Peterborough Public Health are inviting local residents to join in the national campaign to take the “100 meal journey”.
“We know that only 39% of our residents aged 12 years and older are getting the recommended five servings of vegetables and fruit daily,” said Luisa Magalhaes, Registered Dietitian. “We eat about 100 meals in a month. Instead of trying to change everything at once, we’re encouraging people to try making a small, lasting goal and stick with it, one meal at a time.”
Ms. Magalhaes also noted that across Ontario, the average sodium intake from food is 2,871 mg per day which is well above the recommended daily amount of 1,500-2,300 mg.
“Small healthy switches to meals and snacks make a big difference, especially when you continue them over time,” says Magalhaes. “Think about what you eat each day and where can you make a positive, easy change.”
Ms. Magalhaes said to get started on the road to healthier eating, choose a small, meaningful nutrition goal. Try to add a vegetable to your dinner plate. Choose whole grains instead of white bread most of the time. Serve smaller portions. Swap out salt in a recipe for herbs or spices. Or, enjoy a piece of fruit for snacks instead of sweet or salty treats.
Here are some more tips to get you going!
A dietitian can also help to get you back on your healthy eating track. For more info on making small, lasting, healthy changes:
For fast and delicious snack and meal ideas and meal planning tips:
Tour a grocery store with a Registered Dietitian guiding you to healthy food choices. Call 705-742-2733 to register for a Supermarket Tour on Wednesday March 9, 2016 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
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For further information, please contact:
Luisa Magalhaes, MHSc, RD
Public Health Nutritionist
(705) 743-1000, ext. 233
