Issue 2/03 – 5 February 2003
Force Health Protection
The new Force Health Protection directorate conducts
the Health and Lifestyle Information Survey (HLIS) as an important
tool to monitor health trends, and develop and evaluate programs.
“The survey results will be used to design new
programs for the CF,” says Captain(N) Margaret Kavanagh, Deputy
Chief of Staff, Force Health Protection. “For example, the
high injury rates and stress levels have led to the development
of new injury prevention and stress management programs.”
Established September 1, 2001, Force Health Protection
provides an unprecedented in-house and deployable health expertise
to protect and promote the health and well being of CF personnel.
A 47-person team of military and civilian health protection professionals
provides expertise in four specific areas of Force Health Protection:
- Epidemiology section:
Measures, evaluates and manages health risks related to infectious
and non-infectious diseases and injuries, on deployment and in-garrison;
conducts occupational and environmental health surveillance using
the HLIS and a planned electronic health data base called the
CF Health Information System.
- Occupational & Environmental
Health section: Develops and provides guidance on policies,
standards and programs for the prevention, control and management
of environmental and industrial health hazards/public health concerns
on operational deployment and in-garrison; evaluates unique military
occupational environments and exposures; and manages Deployable
Health Hazard Assessment Teams.
- Communicable Disease Control
section: Develops policies for the prevention, control
and management of communicable diseases on deployment and in-garrison;
supports operations, provides immunization and international travel
medicine expertise.
- Health Promotion section:
Develops health promotion policies and consistent, core “Strengthening
the Forces” programs in designated focus areas including
addiction, nutrition, stress management, active living and injury
prevention.
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