Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-10-07, Page 5Wednesday, October 7, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 5 www.lucknowsentinel.com Public Health Matters Healthier moms and babies Sharon Brown Executive Assistant, Huron County Health Unit Hello again! In this install- ment of Public Health Mat- ters, let's talk about one of the great achievements of public health - healthier mothers and babies. A century ago, mortality rates for moms and babies were much higher than they are today. Improved sanita- tion, nutrition and standard of living have all played a role, as have disease screen- ing, prenatal counselling, immunization, breastfeed- ing and more. Part of the Ontario Public Health Standards are the Family Health Program Standards, which includes Child Health. In following these standards, the Huron County Health Unit increases public awareness about breastfeeding, pro- vides advice to new moms and links families to com- munity programs. October 1 to 7 is National Breastfeed- ing Week so what better time to let you know how our family health team sup- ports the baby -feeding journey. Some of you may already know about the Baby - Friendly Initiative, or BFI. This is a global effort to per- form best practices to pro- tect, promote and support breastfeeding. The Health Unit as a whole fully endorses the BFI and shares best practices with the community. BFI involves providing all families with accurate infor- mation about infant feeding. This way, families can make informed decisions without misinformation or the influ- ence of formula companies. At the Health Unit, we share this information at our pre- natal classes and parenting groups, and on our website and Facebook pages (Breast- feeding Connections and Parenting in Huron). Fami- lies receive the same infor- mation at their healthcare providers' visits. Health Canada recom- mends only breastmilk for the first six months. At six months, a baby is physically ready to receive iron -rich solid foods and to continue breastfeeding to two years and beyond. A public health nurse on our Family Health team attempts to call any new mother in Huron County within 48 hours of hospital discharge. The nurse lets the new mom know about local services such as our Infant Feeding Clinics, our home visits, the MILKS peer support group and other services. Breastfeed- ing is a new skill for a mother to learn and we are there to help mothers suc- ceed whether breast or for- mula feeding. So let's give thanks for all those moms and their healthy babies and on behalf of the Health Unit, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Health Unit celebrates breastfeeding for October Huron County Health Unit The first week of October is National Breastfeeding Week, and the Health Unit is celebrating for the entire month. Throughout the year, the Health Unit runs infant feed- ing clinics, prenatal classes and maintains two Facebook pages: Parenting in Huron and Breastfeeding Valerie Gillies Lucknow Sentinel Fall blooms and other interesting plant matter and accessories brightened the floral exhibits at the Ripley Fall Fair September 25 and 26, 2015. Connections. As part of this October's celebrations, the Health Unit will show a matinee movie at the Huron County Museum in Goderich on October 24. The Health Unit, in partner- ship with the Huron County Museum and the Huron Women's Shelter, will present "MILK; an inspiring, provoca- tive look at birth and infant feeding around the globe. "MILK is a stunningly beautiful film about birthing and breastfeeding, viewed through the experiences and voices of mothers," says Pub- lic Health Nurse Ashley Furt- ney. "This movie is for any- one interested in the larger issues of how to support mothers and babies around the globe." This is a baby -friendly event and activities, crafts and childcare will be availa- ble to those wanting to bring their kids along. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 2 p.m. A question - and -answer session will be available after the movie. Instead of admission, donations will be accepted for the Huron County Wom- en's Shelter. The Huron County Women's Shelter currently needs items such as dry goods, cleaning sup- plies, shampoos and body washes. For more ideas, please visit their website at huronwomensshelter.ca/ ways -you -can -help/. Food for Fines Week at Huron County Library Submitted by Huron County Library All twelve branches of the Huron County Library will be participating in the popu- lar 'Food for Fines' program from October 11 to 17 this year. During this week, all branch locations will accept non-perishable food items in place of cash for overdue library fines. This project is offered through the Huron County Library in partner- ship with the Huron County Health Unit and local food banks. It is timely that Food for Fines coincides with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17. The ten food r 1 banks in Huron assist over 1,500 people (singles, fami- lies, children) on a monthly basis. 'Food for Fines' also gives library users a chance to clear their record, return overdue materials, and sup- port local food banks. Dur- ing the program, fines for items are waived on a one to one ratio; it's simply one item of food for each item overdue. All donations through this program are redistributed to food banks within Huron County. For more information on this program or other events at your library check with your local branch, visit us on Face - book, or view our website at www.huroncounty.ca/library/. Lucknow Lancers 1 Oct. 9 1 Oct. 10 Oct. 16 1 Oct. 17 1 Oct. 24 1 Oct. 30 1 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 27 Nov. 28 1 Lucknow Regional Juvenile Silver Stick Tournament Dec 3-6 Dec. 4 Lucknow at Elora 2015-2016 Schedule Mapleton -Minto at Lucknow Lucknow at Ripley Lucknow at Durham Shallow Lake at Lucknow Shelburne at Lucknow Lucknow at Elora Mapleton -Minto at Lucknow Saugeen Shores at Lucknow Lucknow at Shallow Lake Lucknow at Shelburne Elora at Lucknow Lucknow at Saugeen Shores Ripley at Lucknow 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 18 1 Dec. 19 1 Jan. 2 1 Jan. 8 1 Jan. 9 1 Jan. 15 1 Jan. 22 1 Jan. 23 1. Lucknow at Saugeen Shores Shallow Lake at Lucknow Lucknow at Ripley Durham at Lucknow Ripley at Lucknow Lucknow at MM 81's - Drayton Shelburne at Lucknow Lucknow at Shallow Lake Lucknow at Durham Saugeen Shores at Lucknow 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 1 1 7:30 p.m. 1 8:30 p.m. 1 7:30 p.m. 1 8.30 p.m. 1 8.30 p.m. 1 7:30 p.m. 1