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Proactive local policies better for health care
By Chris Conway
Interior Health is warning that health care costs are unsustainable and promoting proactive local government policies as a vital aspect in the health of British Columbians.
Kerri Wall is Interior Health’s Community Health Facilitator for the East and West Kootenay. This week (April 28) Wall met with District of Invermere council to explain how Interior Health can partner with council to enhance the health and wellbeing of Invermere’s residents.
“I help bring health resource, assistance, and expertise to municipal planning, policies, and programming that can positively impact health,” Wall explained.
Wall informed council that Interior Health is committed to collaborate and partner with local governments to create policies and environments that support good health. She advised council that the responsibility for health belongs to all sectors of government and warned that current health care spending is unsustainable.
“Although health care and the health care system are the job of the provincial government, we know that it takes a collaborative effort to address the factors that keep us well; health cannot be achieved by one sector working alone,” said Wall.
The presentation outlined key community factors that keep people healthy. These include; income, nutritious food, exercise, mental wellness, clean environment, less stress, better education and access to health care services.
Wall quoted Oxford public health physician, Dr. Jessie Parfitt who said; “Many would be surprised to learn that the greatest contribution to the health of the nation over the past 150 years was made not by doctors or hospitals but by local government.”
Wall observed that Invermere’s new Official Community Plan (OCP) contains many mentions of walkability, pedestrian accessibility, supporting local agriculture and a community focus on trails and green spaces. “All of these things feed right into health” she remarked.
Describing the Imagine Invermere vision as “healthy public policy gospel,” she added. “I just think it’s fantastic what Invermere is doing”.
Wall also remarked: “The district’s support of the Lake Windermere Whiteway (pictured) is exciting. That’s a great health promotion.”
Council was updated on a wide variety of healthy community initiatives underway throughout the Kootenays. Wall assured council that IH provides dedicated staff to work exclusively with local governments on process, planning, facilitation, advocacy and engagement.
In addition she spoke about information resources available from the Healthy Living Branch of the Ministry of Health, forum and workshop funding from the BC Healthy Communities Society (BCHC) and useful resources for local governments through the Plan H partnership between BCHC and Healthy Families BC.
Wall distributed copies of the Invermere 2014 community health profile. The profile provides local demographic data and health statistics to facilitate dialogue about community health in Invermere.
In closing, Wall proposed that council consider adopting a partnership agreement with IH to promote health and wellness in the community and reduce the risk factors for chronic disease.
Similar informal partnership agreements are already in place with Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, Nelson, Fruitvale, Kaslo and Grand Forks.
“With a partnership agreement we have a way to build our relationship more intentionally,” stated Wall, later adding; “Local governments are really at the forefront of health promotion work, even though we don’t tend to think of municipal policy and planning as ‘health related.’ It makes sense for Interior Health to partner with local governments to assist with their efforts.”
Council thanked Wall for her presentation, which was enthusiastically received, and indicated it was something they would give more consideration to, probably at a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.
Further information about the IH community health initiative can be obtained by contacting Kerri Wall, Community Health Facilitator by phone at (250) 423-8746 or by email at [email protected]
