Regional Forums Bring Northern Perspective to Action Plan to Improve Social Conditions that Affect Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2009

Low wages, substandard housing, poor diet and lack of education are increasingly recognized as major contributors to the chronic health conditions suffered by British Columbians. The BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) is acting to reverse the trend.

In the wake of recent major studies linking standard of living with poor health, the BC Healthy Living Alliance will host Healthy Futures for BC Families: a Policy Discussion on Thursday March 12th, 2009 at the Meadow School Boardroom in Prince George.

The forum will bring together community-minded citizens and opinion leaders from across the northern region to discuss solutions, resulting in a BCHLA position paper incorporating the contributions of local participants.  Participants will be linked by videoconference in communities across the region including: Dawson Creek, Fort St John, Prince George, Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert and Queen Charlotte City.

Research shows that “social determinants” or living conditions have a greater impact on health than most other factors put together, and that one-fifth of our health care costs are attributable to socio-economic inequities.

“There is a large gap between healthy British Columbians and those who suffer from ill health. Often this gap is financial,” said Scott McDonald, Board Member of the BC Healthy Living Alliance. “Better physical health, mental health and life expectancy depend on our ability to afford healthy food and decent housing in walkable neighbourhoods and to give our children better opportunities to develop their minds and bodies in their early years.”

“We know that social and economic factors are actually more important than traditional health services in contributing to good health or its opposite,” said Dr. David Bowering, Chief Medical Health Officer for Northern Health. “If we want healthy people in Northern B.C., it’s important that we network with other agencies and groups to find ways we can work together to make communities more health supporting; especially when it comes to early childhood development.“

In the past year, major studies from provincial, federal and international agencies have reached the same conclusion. The World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health cites evidence that links “wealth with health” and urged governments to address social inequities to improve population health.
The BC Healthy Living Alliance is the largest health promotion team ever assembled in the history of BC.  It was formed in 2003, its vision is for a healthy British Columbia and its focus is on the common risk factors and underlying determinants of chronic disease.
 

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