What Makes Us Sick? CMA Listens in St. John's

Town hall to be held June 3 at Memorial University's Innovation Hall 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

OTTAWA, May 23, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Medical Association will conclude its National Dialogue tour by asking residents of St. John's, N.L., what most influences their health. The town hall brings to an end a series of consultations on health care transformation with a focus on the social factors that cause people to suffer poor health in the first place. At the town halls, as well as through an online conversation, the CMA is seeking Canadians' views on how these "social determinants" affect their health and how to mitigate them.

"The response we've had so far has been tremendous," said Dr. Anna Reid, president of the CMA. "Canadians from all parts of the country are concerned about the huge impact of poverty, housing, food security, early childhood development and the other social determinants on their health and that of their communities. If we want everyone in Canada to have a chance at achieving good health, these issues must be addressed."

The CMA is pleased to partner with three groups in organizing the town hall: the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, the Newfoundland & Labrador Housing & Homelessness Network and Memorial University's Harris Centre.

"This town hall is special in that the demand for it came directly from the St. John's community," Dr. Reid said. "I am keen to hear what the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador have to say, knowing well that they do confront significant challenges when it comes to social determinants of health."

Moderated by Anthony Germain, host of CBC St. John's "The Morning Show," the town hall will feature the following panellists: Bruce Pearce, Community Development Coordinator, St. John's Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness; Peter Jackson, Commentary Editor, The Telegram; Dr. Cheri Bethune, family physician, Shea Heights Community Health Centre and professor at Memorial University; and Heather Bartlett, Executive Director, Daybreak Centre. Dr. Anna Reid will provide opening and closing remarks.

As with the other town halls, the discussion in St. John's will be framed by the following four questions:

1. Many factors influence the health of individuals and communities, such as income, early childhood development, housing and access to healthy food.  How do these factors - known as social determinants - affect your health or the health of your community?
   
   
2. What initiatives or practices have you seen that offset the effects on health of these various determinants?
   
   
3. What should governments, health care providers and others do to help address the social determinants of health?
   
   
4. How can we ensure the health care system is equally accessible to all Canadians, regardless of their income, background or other circumstances?
   
   
   

The town hall series began in February in Winnipeg with a particular focus on Aboriginal health care. Other town halls were held in Hamilton, Charlottetown, Calgary and Montréal. The goal of these consultations is to find ways to address the social determinants of health to improve the health of Canadians. In a few weeks, the CMA will publish a report on what Canadians said.

A special edition to this particular Town Hall is that the St. John's town hall will be webcast live at www.mun.ca/harriscentre. Admission is free but participants are asked to register at the following link: http://conta.cc/13J4UDM or by contacting Kimberly Yetman Dawson at [email protected].

All Canadians are invited to take part in the National Dialogue by going online at http://dialogue.healthcaretransformation.ca/en/.

SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association

Lucie Boileau, Senior Advisor, Communications and Public Outreach
[email protected]
Tel.: [phone] ext. 1266
Cell.: 613-447-0866