The Rural Voice, 1991-09, Page 40COMMUNITY PROJECT TO DISCOVER
WHY MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING IN
GREY -BRUCE OF HEART DISEASE
The myth of the peaceful, healthful
nature of country life has taken a
severe drubbing in the past decade.
According to data provided by the
Grey -Bruce District Health Council,
the rates of death from heart disease in
the two counties is dramatically higher
than the provincial level. (see chart)
While there is no research or analysis
available yet to explain this difference,
the local health unit believes that a
heart disease prevention program can
significantly lower these rates
As a result, the Bruce -Grey -Owen
Sound Health Unit is launching a
project to design a community-based
program aimed at reducing the
incidence of deaths from heart disease.
The project is the first step in
creating a dual county "healthy heart"
program, and is expected to be
completed early in 1992. It was_
initiated by Dr. Murray McQuigge, the
area's Medical Officer of Health, in
response to a growing concern over the
number of fatalities from heart disease.
There are several "healthy heart"
by Susan Glover
programs underway elsewhere in
Ontario, including East York, Ottawa,
Sudbury, and Brant-Haldimand-
Norfolk. The Health Unit plans to
draw on their experiences when
creating a program for Grey and Bruce
Counties.
To build a broad base of support,
the Health Unit has created a steering
committee which, in addition to
Health Unit employees, includes Beth
Slumskie, area co-ordinator of the
Heart and Stroke foundation, Sue
Burley of the Grey -Bruce Regional
Health Centre, Earl Farrell, supervisor
of physical and health education for
the Bruce County Board of Education,
and Brad Stairs, physical activity
director of the YM -YWCA in Owen
Sound.
A series of public meetings will be
held around the two counties this fall.
The committee is approaching politi-
cians, business people, farm groups,
teachers and students, churches, and
SELECTED CAUSES OF DEATH
GREY -BRUCE VS. ONTARIO 1987
400
350
300
250
200 180.3 -
199.4
150
100
50
0
40.4 33.4
CANCER ACCIDENTS
MEI GREY -BRUCE
Rate per 100,000 Population
338.3
239.4
91.3
57.7
HEART DISEASE VASCULAR LESNS
. ONTARIO
community organizations in an effort
to reach a broad range of ages and
interests in the rural community. The
project will also be promoted at arca
fall fairs. Members of the public will
be encouraged to put forward
suggestions for measures that their
communities could take to lower risk
factors for heart disease.
The primarily rural nature of the
two counties poses unique challenges
for the committee. At the same time,
Tina Van't Voort, director of nutrition
for the health unit, sees opportunities,
and is looking forward to meeting
with commodity and agricultural
groups in the two counties.
Farm groups benefit
She cites evidence from a program
in Wales where farm groups have
been able to capitalize on increasing
public awareness of diet, and work co-
operatively with public education
programs. For example, the Meat and
Livestock Commission there was able
to take advantage of the nutrition
segment of the project to accelerate
the development and promotion of
lean meat.
Following its series of public
meetings this fall, the committee will
prepare a master plan for a Grey -
Bruce -wide program, based on the
concerns and suggestions it receives.
Similar programs in other areas have
shown that the rates of premature
deaths can be reduced dramatically,
and the committee is determined to
see the same changes for Grey and
Bruce Counties.0
Happy Health Heart
Public Meetings
October 3 — Lion's Head
October 8 — Port Elgin
October 15 — Walkerton
October 22 — Meaford/Clarksburg
October 29 — Owen Sound
November 5 — Markdale/Flesherton
Grey -Bruce residents should check
local media for times and locations.0
36 THE RURAL VOICE