Skills Enhancement for Public Health

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Skills Enhancement for Public Health Learner/Facil
itator Forum March 23 24, 2006 Quebec City
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• There has probably been no time in the history
  of this country when trained, competent and
  efficient health officers were needed so much as
  they are now. It is unfortunate that in the
  absence of epidemics and pestilence, too little
  attention is paid to those whose duties require
  them to guard the public health.
• Journal of the American Medical Association - 1893

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The Health of the Population

• Peace and Stable Ecosystem
• Food and Shelter
• Education
• Sustainable Resources
• Child Development
• Working Conditions
• Choices and Coping
• Income and Social Status
• Health Services
• Social Support Network

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Public Health Agency of Canadathe beginning

• Started with SARS
• Learning from SARS Renewal of Public Health
  Report
• Sept. 24, 2004 PHAC launched
• Chief Public Health Officer of Canada appointed

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• No attempt to improve public health will succeed
  that does not recognize the fundamental
  importance of providing and maintaining in every
  local health agency across Canada an adequate
  staff of highly skilled and motivated public
  health professionals. Our national aim should be
  to produce a cadre of outstanding public health
  professionals who are adequately qualified and
  compensated, and who have clear roles,
  responsibilities and career paths.
• Learning from SARS Renewal of Public Health
  in Canada (2003)

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Public Health Agency of Canada
MissionTo promote and protect the health of
Canadians through leadership, partnership,
innovation and action in public health. Vision
Healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier
world.
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Six Functions of Public Health

• Population health assessment
• Disease and injury surveillance
• Health promotion
• Disease and injury prevention
• Health protection
• Emergency preparedness and response

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Public Health Agency of Canada Organization
Chief Public Health Officer
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention
Infectious Disease and Emergency Preparedness
Public Health Practice and Regional Operations
Corporate Services
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Public Health Agency of Canadas Programs

• Emergency Preparedness Response
• Health Promotion Chronic Disease Prevention
  Control
• Infectious Disease Prevention Control
• Public Health Tools Practice

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The Agency Year One Examples

• National Collaborating Centres
• Public Health Goals for Canada
• Pan-Canadian Public Health Network
• Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy
• Pandemic Influenza Planning
• Public Health Human Resource Planning

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Public Health Human Resources Planning

• Many components with the Public Health Agency of
  Canada leading some of work
• One component continuing education
  opportunities

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Public Health Human Resources Planning

• Another component pan-Canadian core
  competencies for public health
• Provides the foundation for public health human
  resource planning

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Partnerships Critical

• Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committees
• Public health organizations e.g. Public Health
  Associations
• Universities and colleges
• Public Health Discipline groups
• Local health units and regions

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The Health of The Public is the Foundation Upon
Which Rests the Happiness of The People, and
the Welfare of The State Disraeli