More than 30 organizations from across Canada are uniting as partners in a first-of-its-kind initiative to improve the health of Canadians by preventing chronic disease.
Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq announced in Ottawa yesterday that $15.5 million is being invested in seven collaborative coalitions for chronic disease prevention.
Coinciding with World Cancer Day today and Heart Month in February, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, along with co-funders the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, are putting the money forward to address such issues as childhood obesity, the needs of First Nations communities and the use of electronic medical record systems and evidence-based approaches to increase prevention and screening for chronic disease by family doctors.
The programs will build on chronic disease prevention efforts already underway in many provinces and territories.
“About two-thirds of deaths in Canada are due to chronic diseases,” said Aglukkaq.
This is a team effort that draws expertise from across the country, said Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, chair of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.
