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FIFTEEN

Prevention

“Society continues to permit the existence of hazardous working condition. While there is little disagreement with the concept that all Canadians have a right to a healthy, safe work environment, achievement of that goal lies in the future.”

“It is well known that many conditions which create special needs for people are preventable. For example, of the total number of people whose mental limitations exceed those of the majority of the population, only 25% can attribute that limitation to identifiable organic causes; the remaining 75% are victims of cultural deficiencies, understimulating environments, accident, parental ignorance or child rearing practices and the abject poverty in which many families exist. The Saskatchewan Coordinating Council on Social Planning wholeheartedly supports any activity geared to primary prevention including medical, education, psychological or social intervention.”

“It is impractical to assume that all preventable handicaps will be eliminated. However, a very significant reduction should be achievable with a consequent saving of many millions of state funds and the reduction of large numbers of unfortunates who, through no fault of their own, are prevented from living normal, productive lives.”

DEVELOP NATIONAL POLICY ON PREVENTION OF DISABILITIES

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Federal Government request the Department of National Health and Welfare to develop, in conjunction with the Provinces and appropriate organizations, a national policy on the prevention of disability based on the directions set out in “A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians” and that such a policy would include strategies for action in the following areas:

• Reduction of the incidence of birth-related disabilities through promotion of high standards of prenatal, pennatal and postnatal care.
  
• Reduction of the incidence of, or, where possible, the eradication of communicable diseases.
  
• Promotion of safe and healthy work environments.
  
• Promotion of lifestyles that enhance physical and mental well-being with particular emphasis on stress management, on the effects of drinking, on safe driving, and on the safety aspects of sport and recreational activities.

Too Late: - At the moment, the health care system in Canada can do little more for accident victims than take care of them after the damage is done. Real progress against the conditions which produce disabilities will come only when Canadians themselves, on a national basis, take primary responsibility for protecting and promoting their own health and that of their offspring.

Un-Coordinated: A wide range of programs and activities to prevent physical and mental disability are being conducted throughout Canada by government and private organizations. Unfortunately, there is no national, coordinated effort in this field. There is little sense of commitment to a national prevention policy.

Outline: The information needed to take action is already in place. In April 1974, the Department of National Health and Welfare produced a report entitled “A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians: A Working Document”. This is an outline for the kind of awareness Canadians must develop in order to prevent disease and injury in their daily lives. The outline must now be expanded and translated into an active national program.