FRANCAIS

June 13, 2006

More than $2 million will be invested in chronic disease prevention in Manitoba, Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald announced today at the launch of the province’s Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative (CDPI).

Forty-seven Manitoba communities will receive more than $1 million to provide chronic disease prevention initiatives in their communities. Another $1 million, including an initial $500,000 investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada, will be provided for training, education and program evaluation.

“Since the development of the provincial Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative last fall, communities have really come together to create innovative programs and services that will offer opportunities for healthy living,” said Oswald. “People and organizations at the local level are making things happen and these partnerships will create the supportive environments Manitobans need to live healthy, active lives.”

The CDPI is a provincial project designed to fight diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory disease, which are all major causes of illness, disability and death in Manitoba.

The Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative expands on and strengthens a number of chronic disease prevention programs already underway in the province. Community projects will include:

• providing cooking classes and teaching youth how to prepare traditional foods (Gods Lake Narrows);

• implementing a bulk food-buying co-operative (Wasagamac);

• promoting free-form dancing in the curling rink (Leaf Rapids);

• developing an old racetrack into a walking path (Waywayseecapo);

• starting an after-school program to teach children about healthy food and easy cooking (Minnedosa);

• offering opportunities for physical activity for caregivers with young children, particularly those who do not speak English (Winkler);

• providing a stress-reduction workshop that addresses eating as a coping mechanism (Brokenhead/Iron Rose);

• operating a community kitchen for families that have financial barriers to healthy eating (Swan River); and

• implementing and supporting community gardens (Seven Oaks, Winnipeg).

The community initiatives reflect what Manitobans told the Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force about the need to access nutritious foods and a wide range of healthy activities.

“Thousands of Manitobans live with a chronic disease, but we can combat these preventable medical conditions by providing the opportunities to make healthy choices,” said Health Minister Tim Sale. “I’m pleased that the partnerships we have developed with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the regional health authorities and community groups around the province will provide such positive benefits for the health of Manitobans in the years ahead.”

The CDPI complements Manitoba Health initiatives that will focus on early detection, changes in disease patterns and improved health outcomes. The CDPI will advance the government’s vision of healthy Manitobans through a balance of prevention and care. In October 2005, Manitoba Health committed $3 million to the initiative.

The CDPI is undertaken by Manitoba Health and related departments in partnership with regional health authorities, the regional office of the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Northern and Aboriginal Population Health and Wellness Institute, and the Alliance for Prevention of Chronic Diseases comprising the Canadian Diabetes Association, Manitoba/Nunavut Region; Canadian Cancer Society (Manitoba Division); CancerCare Manitoba; Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba; Kidney Foundation of Canada; and Manitoba Lung Association.

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