Healthy Societies
While universally accessible health care is a fundamental necessity
for a healthy population, nurses know that it is not enough. Trips
to emergency rooms and dependence on drugs and other health-sustaining
measures can be avoided with strong, comprehensive social programs
that proactively support a healthy lifestyle. Poverty, infrastructure,
education, the environment and community-based models of care must
all be invested in for a well-rounded, healthy population.
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Sustainability
for Uncertain Times: Submission to Standing Committee
on Finance and Economic Affairs (offline) |
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Funding for Sustainability
Submission To: Ministry of Finance (offline) |
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The
National Population Health Survey |
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Poverty is one of the best indicators of overall health; yet the
impact of living in poverty can take many years to be noticed. When
someone loses his or her job, the greatest consequences tend to
fall on the children, but it will take years before the results
of a life of poverty manifest themselves in poorer health outcomes.
The situation is becoming more severe as income disparities widen
across Canada; in 1998, 17.5 per cent of Ontario’s children
were classified as poor. By employing as much of the population
as possible, and investing in programs that provide children with
a healthy start, governments can provide the most vulnerable with
a head start on healthy living.
Governments can begin to work towards full employment by investing
in infrastructure. There are few market incentives for the private
sector to invest in transportation networks, schools, hospitals
or water treatment facilities; traditionally government has filled
in the gaps. But government funding has begun to erode. It is imperative
that governments invest in infrastructure to produce productive,
energetic and healthy populations.
Levels of education are also a strong factor in determining a healthy
society. Investment in programs to help the poorest members of society
access higher education pays off in long-term benefits. The
National Population Health Survey (1994-95) found that 36 per
cent of university graduates rated their health as excellent; only
20 per cent of individuals with less than a high school education
said the same. There is considerable evidence demonstrating the
link between education and income; those of higher socio-economic
status tend to live longer, healthier lives.
The importance of the environment to health care was tragically
demonstrated during the Walkerton E. coli water disaster. Cutbacks
to the Ministry of Environment left life-saving water testing vulnerable,
resulting in disastrous health outcomes. Many hospital stays that
required intensive care could have been avoided by investment in
environmental protection. Similarly, investments in technologies
that help reduce the harmful effects of air pollution will save
many trips to the emergency room during hot, smoggy summer days.
Environmental sustainability faces a great challenge from firms
primarily concerned with the bottom line, not environmental effects
that take years to notice. Commitment to a healthy environment is
a commitment to healthy citizens.
Despite the best intentions to create a dynamic, healthy society
through solid social supports, inevitably there will be a need for
health-care services. However, traditional, expensive, hospital-based
care models should be replaced with community-based models of care
that include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other professionals
who work together to provide the best care. The needs of Canada’s
population are changing, and as Canadians age their health needs
will also increase. However, providing illness prevention and health
care efficiently will allow medicare to be sustainable for both
an aging population, and its grandchildren.
Adapted from:
- Sustainability for Uncertain Times:
Submission to Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
(Offline)
- Funding for Sustainability Submission
To: Ministry of Finance (offline)
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