ACTNOW BC HEALTH TOUR TO VISIT ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

PORT ALBERNI – A health program to reach some of B.C.’s more remote communities will provide valuable testing, screening services and tools for healthy living for Aboriginal people, announced Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.

“We’re providing new ways to help close the health gap between Aboriginal people and other British Columbians,” said Polak at the tour launch in Port Alberni. “Increased awareness is vital to helping British Columbians reduce their risk of diabetes and other preventable chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure and cancer.”

The pilot ActNow BC Road to Health Aboriginal Community Tour was held in June this year and visited three communities in northern B.C. More than 300 people were screened for heart health and many high risk individuals were identified, counselled and provided with personal medical assistance they had never received before.

The tour is being led by Diabetes and My Nation, a non-profit organization that will plan community events tailored to the traditions and cultures of B.C.’s Aboriginal people. Working closely with the regional health authorities and health-care professionals, the organization will provide information about healthy living to community members. It will also provide screening to determine factors for chronic diseases and provide feedback on how to begin leading healthier lives.

There will be activities at each tour stop run by the ActNow BC team, who will provide information on healthy eating and physical activity to promote the importance of healthier lifestyles.

Following each tour visit, Diabetes and My Nation will provide a workshop for a health-care team in each community on how to establish a program for diabetes prevention and management, which includes materials and resources to support the workshop.

“We welcome this timely community engagement initiative by ActNow BC,” said Chief Robert Joseph, with Diabetes and My Nation. “This program will be important in helping to improve the health of B.C.’s First Nations.”

The tour will visit Gold River on Nov. 13; Klemtu on Nov. 22 and 23; Penticton on Nov. 25; Terrace on Nov. 27 and 28; Quesnel on Dec. 3; Kitimat on Dec. 5, 6 and 7; and Lilwat on Dec. 10. The target is to reach approximately 2,400 First Nation individual participants or 300 per community.

ActNow BC is government’s healthy living initiative aimed at encouraging British Columbians to eat more healthfully, increase physical activity, eliminate tobacco use and make healthy choices in pregnancy. Join thousands of British Columbians in taking the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge and visit the ActNow BC website at www.actnowbc.ca.

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Media contact:	Anne McKinnon Communications Director Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport 250 952-2387

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