The Pugwash and Area Community Health Board discussed the 2009-2012 Community Health Plan at the board’s February meeting at the North Cumberland Memorial Hospital in Pugwash. From left to right are board members Joanne Cottrill and Linda Patriquin wit

PUGWASH: The Cumberland Health Authority has given approval to a three-year Community Health Plan for Cumberland County developed in part by the Pugwash and Area Community Health Board shortly before Christmas.
The Pugwash board works with the two other community health boards in the county, Springhill, Oxford, Amherst and Region (SOAR) and Southampton, Parrsboro, Advocate and Region (SPAR).
The five major issues addressed in the plan are: smoking rates among pregnant women and new mothers, youth substance abuse, the community’s aging population, obesity and physical activity, and chronic disease.
Under each of the major issues, there are several actions that the Community Health Boards will pursue over the next three years.
For example, the actions for the issue of obesity and physical activity are: to allocate wellness funding to “Break the Fast” programs at the Amherst and Springhill campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College, to allocate wellness funding to student physical activity programs, to ensure the “Walk Around the World” program is launched in each of the three Community Health Boards, and to be an advocate for the establishment of indoor walking facilities for seniors in SOAR, SPAR and Pugwash region.
These issues were identified after a review of a federal government document entitled Health Status Profile, which was used by the Community Health Boards to determine the top issues affecting the health of residents.
The health boards then commissioned the Saint Mary’s University Business Development Centre to conduct a telephone survey with county residents to obtain their thoughts on health issues and suggested ways to address those concerns.
The Community Health Plan is being circulated widely in the Pugwash and Area Community Health Board.
To obtain a copy with all the details contact Peter Lewis, Chair of the Pugwash and Area Community Health Board at 243-2075.