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Mission and Vision
Mission:
To promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation and action in public health.
Vision:
Healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier world.
About the Public Health Agency of Canada
Strengthening its ability to protect the health and safety of Canadians,
the Government of Canada has delivered on its commitment to establish
a new Public Health Agency of Canada and appoint a Chief Public Health
Officer.
The creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada marks the beginning
of a new approach to federal leadership and collaboration with provinces
and territories on efforts to renew the public health system in Canada
and support a sustainable health care system.
Focussed on more effective efforts to prevent chronic diseases, like
cancer and heart disease, prevent injuries and respond to public health
emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, the Public Health Agency
of Canada works closely with provinces and territories to keep Canadians
healthy and help reduce pressures on the health care system.
The Agency will be part of the public service and will be headed by
the Chief Public Health Officer who will report to the Minister
of Health. Health Canada will also report to the Minister of Health.
Although separate, both will be members of the health portfolio and will
work together to improve and protect the health of Canadians.
Centres - Directorates - Laboratories
The following brief descriptions outline the various components that
make up PHAC.
Centre for Healthy Human Development
(CHHD)
The Centre is responsible for implementing policies and
programs that enhance the conditions within which healthy development
takes place. Through action founded on the principles of population
and public health, the Centre addresses the determinants of health and
facilitates successful movement through the life stages. The Centre
acts through programs addressing healthy
child development, active
living, families, aging and
lifestyles, public information and education (Canadian
Health Network),
as well as issues related to rural
health.
Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Control (CCDPC)
The Centre is the national focal point for chronic disease
prevention and control. Program activities are centred around three
key strategic priorities: knowledge generation and dissemination, policy
and program development, and surveillance. Activities focus on building
and disseminating the evidence based on best practices and lessons learned
to support policies and programs for chronic disease prevention and
control; facilitating the development of prevention, screening and early
detection programs for chronic diseases by provinces/territories; providing
project funding to community and support groups; developing national
strategies for the management and control of chronic diseases; maintaining
and enhancing an integrated surveillance system to assist in developing
chronic disease policy; and providing a stimulus for international links
in the area on chronic disease prevention and control.
Centre for Infectious Disease
Prevention and Control (CIDPC)
The Centre promotes improvement in the health status of
Canadians in the area of infectious diseases through public health action.
These public health actions include surveillance and epidemiology, risk
management, research including laboratory science, health promotion,
public health policy development, and prevention and care programs.
CIDPC's objectives are to decrease transmission of infectious diseases
and to improve the health status of those infected. The Centre's program
areas include infectious disease
surveillance and risk assessments, foodborne,
zoonotic and environmentally acquired infections, immunization
and respiratory infections, community acquired infections including Hepatitis
C, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, blood safety surveillance and
health care acquired infections, HIV/AIDS
policy/coordination/programs,
and HIV and retrovirology laboratories. The Centre works in close partnership
with Canada's Provinces and Territories and with international agencies
to accomplish its goals.
Centre for Emergency Preparedness
and Response (CEPR)
The Centre is Canada's central coordinating point for public
health security issues. Its many responsibilities include developing
and maintaining national emergency response plans for the Public Health
Agency of Canada; monitoring outbreaks and global disease events; assessing
public health risks during emergencies; contributing to keeping Canada's
health and emergency policies in line with threats to public health
security and general security for Canadians in collaboration with other
federal and international health and security agencies; being responsible
for the important federal public health rules governing laboratory
safety and security, quarantine and similar issues; and being the
health authority in the Government of Canada on bioterrorism, emergency
health services and emergency response.
Office of Public Health Practice (OPHP)
Office of Public Health Practice works to strengthen Canada's public health infrastructure in selected areas. We do this to support effective public health practice. Our approach is to work with partners and stakeholders to mobilize Pan-Canadian action to improve infrastructure in the areas of: Workforce,
Information and Knowledge Systems, Public Health Law and Information Policy.
Strategic Policy Directorate (SPD)
The Directorate provides PHAC with policy expertise and
coordination. It collaborates with analysts in all areas of the Branch
to develop, articulate and integrate Branch policy. By gathering and
synthesizing key policy information, creating and cultivating internal
and external partnerships and providing sound, evidence-based policy
advice, SPD helps to set strategic directions for PHAC and the Department.
Management and Program Services
Directorate (MPSD)
The Directorate is a centre of leadership and expertise
that provides Branch-wide management and program services to support
the population and public health mandate of the Branch in the following
areas: leadership and coordination of performance measurement and evaluation;
grants and contributions management; continuous learning and workplace
health activities; management of the Population Health Fund; and administrative
services (e.g., accommodations, informatics and information management,
Ministerial and Executive correspondence).
Business Integration and Information
Services Directorate (BIISD)
The Directorate serves as a single point of entry for the Assistant
Deputy Minister to maintain a connection with horizontal PHAC activity
on a day-to-day basis. It is made up of three key areas: Scientific
Publication and Multimedia Services (SPMS), Parliamentary Affairs, and
Cabinet Business (PACB) and Business Integration (BI).
The SPMS group produces, in both traditional and electronic formats,
a wide range of Branch scientific information products, from brochures
to periodicals, poster presentations and books. PACB supports the work
of the Minister in the House at Committee and Cabinet meetings, and
manages Access to Information requests. BI covers a range of activities,
including links with the Auditor General's Office, Branch internal communications,
and secretariat functions for various Branch committees.
Laboratory for Foodborne
Zoonoses (LFZ)
The Laboratory provides policy makers and other stakeholders
with scientific information and advice on minimizing the risks of human
illnesses arising from the interface between humans, animals and the
environment, with special emphasis on infections due to enteric pathogens
(intestinal disease-causing agents). Located in Guelph, Ontario, with
satellite units in Lethbridge, Alberta, and St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, these
locations provide opportunities for collaborative projects with universities,
government agencies (federal and provincial), and public health and
industry partners in delivery of the program objectives.
National Microbiology Laboratory
(NML)
The National Microbiology Laboratory consists of five National
Laboratories supported by a Division of Core Services, which includes
DNA sequencing, Animal Resources and a Central Laboratory for Decontamination
and Wash-up Services. The five National Laboratories are as follows:
- National Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens
- National Laboratory for Bacteriology
- National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens and Foodborne Diseases
- National Laboratory for Diagnostic Virology
- National Laboratory for Host Genetics and Prion Diseases
These Laboratories provide expert microbiological reference testing,
surveillance, and outbreak investigation support to the public health
network in Canada.
PHAC presence in six regions
PHAC has a presence in all regions of Canada and with the Northern
Secretariat. These offices carry out the Agency's mandate through such
activities as program delivery, research and knowledge development,
policy analysis and development, community capacity building, and public
and professional education.
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