Download P - Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Public Health Services to New
Immigrants/Refugees in Winnipeg
Horst Backe, Gayleen Dimond
Population and Public Health Program
Purpose of the Presentation
• Describe how Public Health staff can
provide support to new immigrants /
refugees
• Provide contact information
• Describe background to various public
health services
What is Population & Public Health?
Public Health focuses on:
• Improving the health of the population
• Reducing health disparities
• Anticipating and preparing for new threats
and contingencies
We are one of many community programs in the
WRHA including, home care, primary care
(Bridge Care), and mental health.
Healthy Parenting and Early
Childhood Development
Public Health Nurses support families to
• Have healthy pregnancies
• Have the best birth outcomes
• Provide the safest and healthiest environment
to raise children
Language Access
We can use interpreters for delivery of services
Prenatal and Postnatal Services
• Reduce fetal exposure to harmful chemicals
(e.g., drugs, alcohol, tobacco)
• Improve nutrition (promote breastfeeding),
basic care and preventive practices
• Promote secure parent-child bonding
• Optimize early childhood development
potential
• Improve the health and well being of families
Preschool
• Promote physical, emotional and social
readiness for transition to school
• Increase the numbers of children entering
school who are ready to learn
• Reduce injury-related death and disability
Services to Expectant Families &
Families With Children
• Home-based comprehensive assessment,
referral and support of:
– Prenatal women and families
– Postnatal families
– Families with children under 5
• Public Health Nursing services
• Family First Home Visiting Services
• Group Support (Nutritionists, Nurses)
Healthy Start for Mom & Me for Newcomers
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Basement 400 Edmonton, Knox Centre, Wed 1:30-3:30 pm
(204)949-5350
Interpreters available
Pregnant women, partners and parents with babies up to 1
year old are welcome
Meet new friends and share stories
Learn about food, nutrition and cooking
Have fun with your baby & take new play ideas home
Answers to questions about health & baby care
Free milk coupons for pregnant & new moms
Staff include Dieticians and Public Health Nurses
How can you help?
• Refer all families who are pregnant or have
children under the age of 5 to the Public
Health Nurse in Community Area where the
family temporarily or permanently resides
• Refer pregnant women to midwife,
obstetrician or medical doctor – Public Health
Nurses can help with this
Community Area Office Phone Numbers
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Assiniboine South ........................ (204) 940-1950
Downtown ………........................... (204) 940-8441
Fort Garry .................................... (204) 940-2015
Inkster.......................................... (204) 938-5900
Point Douglas .............................. (204) 940-2025
River East..................................... (204) 938-5300
River Heights................................(204) 938-5500
Seven Oaks.................................. (204) 938-5600
St. Boniface ................................. (204) 940-2035
St. James/Assiniboia ....................(204) 940-2040
St. Vital.........................................(204) 940-2045
Transcona.................................... (204) 938-5555
Tuberculosis
• Cough lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, with or
without weight loss or night sweats, within
the first 5 years of arrival tell the doctor that
you could have tuberculosis
• Public Health follows all persons with
tuberculosis until they have completed
treatment
Infectious Diseases/Tropical Medicine
• If you get really sick make sure you tell the doctor what country
you came from and how long you have been in Canada.
• A referral can be made to a specialist:
– HSC Infectious Diseases (204) 787-3582
– St. Boniface Hospital Infectious Diseases (204) 237-2927
– WRHA Travel Health and Tropical Medicine Services (204)
940-8747
• Any individual from a malaria endemic country who has a fever
within 6 to 12 months of arrival should be treated as an
emergency!
– Access the emergency department at Health Sciences Centre
or St. Boniface Hospital.
Travel Health
• Immigrants returning to visit friends and
relatives have the highest risk of travel-related
illness
• Should be seen before travelling:
– WRHA Travel Health and Tropical Medicine
Services, 490 Hargrave Street (204) 940-8747
– fee-for-service
Immunization
• The Manitoba schedule for infants, children
and adults can be found at
http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/imm/schedule
• Vaccinations on the schedule are free
• Immunizations are provided by primary care
providers and Public Health Nurses
• Several vaccines are offered in schools for
children in grades 4, 6, and 9
Immunization …continued
• Upon arrival in Canada it is important to
follow-up with a doctor or public health nurse
• Present any immunization records that you
may have for each member of your family
• The doctor or nurse can then discuss what
immunizations are recommended to ensure
you are properly protected
HIV
• Little advertising about it does not mean it
does not exist
• Persons from HIV endemic countries are more
likely to get HIV infections in Canada than in
their home country or intermediary countries
(e.g., refugee camps)
HIV Positive Persons
• Refer to HIV program: (204)940-6089 or
1-866-449-0165 as soon as possible
– Increases length and quality of life
– Reduces HIV spread
• They should inform partner of HIV status
before doing anything high risk for
transmitting HIV
• If pregnant or considering it, get prenatal care
• Breastfeeding is NOT recommended
HIV Positive Persons …continued
• Call (204) 940-2210 in Winnipeg if no contact
has been made with a Public Health Nurse
since arrival
• HIV screening is part of the CIC medical
examination
• Persons with HIV are referred to Manitoba
Health
• Manitoba Health sends these referrals to local
Regional Health Authorities
Illness That May Need Physician
Support
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Pap Smears
Ova and Parasites
Hepatitis A, B and C
Mental Health – referral for post traumatic
stress (e.g., Bridge Care, Mount Carmel Clinic,
Aurora Counseling Centre, Immigrant
Women’s Counseling, Family Centre)
Injury Prevention
Significant issues for newcomers:
• Child safety seats/booster seats in Canada
• Cycling safety
• Home safety
• Drowning (recreational swimming/boating)
• Falls in older adults
Contact us for resources, programs and info
(204) 940-8300 [email protected]
Health Inspections
• When there are health concerns about rental
properties ask for a health inspection
• In rental situations, one outcome could be for
landlords to remediate concern(s) (e.g.,
heating, plumbing for fresh water and sewage,
electrical or other safety hazards such as
broken windows or broken stairs)
• Ask for help by telephoning 311
If you are not sure who to call:
WRHA Switchboard
(204)926-7000