Forum: Addressing Social Issues that Affect Health Opinion Leaders from Across the Island Contribute to Action Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 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 Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo.
The forum will bring together community-minded citizens and opinion leaders from across Vancouver Island to discuss solutions, resulting in a BCHLA position paper incorporating the contributions of local participants.
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 Jean Blake, Chair 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.”
“There’s no doubt, people in disadvantaged circumstances become ill more often and suffer more complications from such things as heart disease and diabetes” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Chief Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Island Health Authority. “On the Island, as in other areas of BC, Aboriginal people, new immigrants and others with lower incomes are among those most affected. Poverty is a major barrier to good health and we hope this policy discussion will come up with concrete solutions.”
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.
Contact:
Rita Koutsodimos, Communications Manager
BC Healthy Living Alliance Secretariat
604-629-1630 / Mobile: 778-828-2069
rkoutsodimos(at)bchealthyliving.ca
