Public health balances the rights and responsibilities of individuals and organizations and the responsibility of government to protect and promote health. Public health shares the same goals as the rest of the health care system-to reduce premature death and to minimize the effects of disease, disability, and injury. The direct cost of illness in British Columbia in 1998 was almost $11 billion, while the indirect cost, measured as the value of economic output lost, was a further $11 billion (Health Canada, 2002).

Population Health and Wellness works to improve British Columbians' overall health and well-being by promoting health; preventing disease, disability, and injury; protecting them from harm; and helping them acquire the self-care and self-management skills they need. By promoting a healthier population, we can reduce demand on the health care system, enabling the Government of British Columbia to meet its health goals of improving the health and wellness of British Columbians, and creating an affordable and sustainable health care system.

List of Topics :

Core Functions Framework
Chronic Disease Framework
Chronic Disease Evidence Paper
The Cost of Physical Inactivity in British Columbia
BC Nutrition Survey
Action Schools BC
Prevention and Wellness
BC HealthGuide
Preventing Chronic Disease
Child and Youth Health
HIV/AIDS
Problematic Substance Use Prevention
Tobacco

Core Functions Framework

Recent Canadian reports such as the Naylor report and the report on the future of public health by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research indicate that public health needs to be better structured and resourced to improve the health of the population. Renewing and strengthening public health services in British Columbia is supported by recommendations of Canada’s First Ministers in the recent Health Accord, and by the BC government’s 2005/06 budget.

The Core Functions Framework defines the core activities of a comprehensive public health system. The framework recognizes that improving the health of the population - and reducing the high direct and indirect economic burden of illness - requires a commitment from society as a whole. This includes all levels of government, ministries, communities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and finally, our citizens. Public health and other health care services alone cannot achieve improved health status, but neither can population health status improve without strong and effective public health services.

The framework will assist health authorities in providing effective public health services to better complement our "illness care" system. In the future, the framework will provide a road map for new investment in public health.

• Public Health Renewal in British Columbia
  An Overview of Core Functions in Public Health (PDF 253 Kb)
• A Framework for Core Functions In Public Health (PDF 1384 Kb)
• The Naylor report
• The CIHR report

Chronic Disease Framework

Population Health and Wellness has developed The Chronic Disease Prevention Framework that provides a broad strategic overview of the factors that lead to chronic diseases and the range of interventions needed to prevent or reduce their occurrence. It was distributed in September 2003 and represents part of the first phase of a comprehensive approach by the Ministry of Health to better understand and take action on the complex issue of chronic disease prevention in British Columbia.

See also the covering letter from the Provincial Health Officer and the Assistant Deputy Minister for Population Health and Wellness.

Chronic Disease Evidence Paper

Population Health and Wellness has prepared a review of the evidence for effective interventions for the prevention of four of the major categories of chronic disease - cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes. The paper examines the evidence for the effectiveness of a range of strategies from healthy public policy to clinical prevention, with a particular emphasis on three of the major risk factors - tobacco use, physical activity and diet.

Lack of physical activity is a major public health concern in British Columbia. The most recent data indicates that 38% of British Columbians are not active enough to achieve the health benefits associated with an active lifestyle.Activities providing 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day, such as brisk walking or cycling are enough to maintain an active lifestyle. As well, physical activity contributes positively to a person's overall well being.

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases including coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis.

This report is the result of data collected to establish the economic implications of the lack of activity in British Columbia. This report conservatively estimates the annual cost of lack of physical activity in British Columbia at $573 million. For more information, see the full report (revised) The Cost of Physical Inactivity in British Columbia. (PDF 356 Kb)

BC Nutrition Survey

The B.C. Nutrition Survey, conducted in 1999, was designed to obtain comprehensive, up-to-date information on the eating habits of adult British Columbians. A total of 1,823 people participated in the province-wide survey, which involved 90 minute, in-home interviews by specially trained public health staff. The B.C. Nutrition Survey was a collaboration of Ministry of Health, Health Canada and University of British Columbia. The results will be used by government and health organizations to evaluate existing programs and policies and to plan future ones.

For more information see BC Nutrition Survey.

A physical activity program based on best practices and designed for elementary schools helps students create individual action plans for healthy living. This new program is currently being implemented in 10 schools in BC's Lower Mainland, with plans for future expansion. Action Schools! BC provides opportunities for more children to be physically active more often.

For information, visit our web site at Action Schools! BC.

Prevention and Wellness

Improved health and wellness through lowered rates of disease and disability are the results of effective health promotion and prevention initiatives.

All British Columbians can benefit from Prevention and Wellness programs. These programs provide resources and tools to help British Columbians make healthier choices and take better care of their health. In addition, initiatives support the following:

• Children and youth;
• Individuals and population groups at risk of developing health conditions; and
• Individuals who have a chronic disease or disability

Prevention and Wellness supports the development and delivery of health programs and services, including:

(Please note that the underlined headings below are links to other sections of P&W;)

ActionSchools! BC
BC HealthGuide
Preventing Chronic Diseases
Child and Youth Health
HIV/AIDS
Problematic Substance Use Prevention
Tobacco
BC Nutrition Survey

BC HealthGuide is an innovative program offering practical information to help you take control of your health. It offers valuable health information through four quick, easy options:

• BC HealthGuide OnLine provides information on more than 2,500 common health topics, tests, procedures and other resources. Visit the Web site at www.bchealthguide.org.

• BC NurseLine offers confidential health information and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through a toll-free telephone line staffed by registered nurses. Translation services are available in 130 languages, plus services for the deaf or hard of hearing.

• BC HealthGuide Handbook offers useful advice and information on more than 190 common health concerns, as well as valuable tips on preventing illness and home remedies.

• A new companion guide, the BC First Nations Health Handbook, provides information on unique health services, as well as advice for health professionals serving First Nations individuals and communities.

• BC HealthFiles are fact sheets on a wide range of public and environmental health and safety issues.

Preventing Chronic Disease

The Ministry of Health is intensifying its efforts to promote physical activity, healthy eating and wellness. As part of BC's Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative, the ministry is developing an Agenda for Action on Physical Activity and Healthy Eating. The agenda aims to increase British Columbians' levels of physical activity and to promote healthy eating habits, resulting in better health and reduced risk of chronic disease. For more information, see Preventing Chronic Disease.

Child and Youth Health provides direction and support to health care partners and brings together experts to help ensure quality, coordinated services that promote the health and wellness of BC's children and youth. Through partnerships, we support, development of standards, guidelines and healthy public policy, as well as monitoring and evaluation of programs and services. For more information, see Child and Youth Health.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS and Addictions works to prevent and respond to HIV disease and other blood borne pathogens as well as prevent or reduce other harmful effects of alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs, by:

• Supporting efforts by health authorities and their community partners in delivering HIV prevention and care across BC.
• Building community, health authority and public support for developing evidence based approaches for preventing alcohol and drug misuse and reducing associated harms.
• Gathering and disseminating evidence from researchers, the field and community stakeholders that can inform innovative program design and development.
• Ensuring best practice support and information is updated in accordance with emerging research and regional needs, and disseminated effectively.
• Ensuring proposed approaches complement initiatives from BC's health authorities, aboriginal initiatives, the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS, and Canada's Drug Strategy.
• Monitoring provincial progress in addressing alcohol and drug misuse and HIV disease.
• Facilitating and guiding inter-ministerial and inter-jurisdictional discussions and action on HIV disease and alcohol and drug misuse.

Problematic Substance Use Prevention seeks to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs. Problematic use of alcohol or other drugs can lead to health concerns for British Columbians and result in harmful consequences for families, the workplace and communities. Additional information is available on Problematic Substance Use Prevention.

Tobacco

Tobacco is acknowledged as the leading cause of preventable death. The provincial strategy aims to protect British Columbians from tobacco use, especially children and youth. The strategy includes public awareness campaigns and education programs, legal action against the industry, and legislative changes. British Columbia has been recognized as a world leader in tobacco prevention as a result of these efforts, and awarded the Tobacco Free World Award by the World Health Organization in 2000. BC also has the lowest overall smoking rate in the country. For information on BC's strategy to protect kids from tobacco, visit Tobacco.

Additional information, resources and tools are available to educate youth on the dangers of tobacco at Tobacco Facts.