Loading...
Clinton News Record, 2016-01-20, Page 5Wednesday, January 20, 2016 • News Record 5 www.clintonnewsrecord.com 5 things Canadians need to know about food insecurity Dr. Tarasuk and Carolyn Shimmin Translation Coordinator, EvidenceNetwork.ca For many Canadians, food plays a central role in the holi- day festivities. But for those experiencing food insecurity, a bountiful feast will not be in the cards this year. Over four mil- lion Canadians, including 1.15 million children experience some level of food insecurity. Food insecurity, also known as 'food poverty; can cause sig- nificant anxiety over diminish- ing household food supplies and result in individuals modi- fying their eating patterns — adults skipping meals so chil- dren can eat or sacrificing quality food choices for cheaper, less healthy options, for example. Food insecurity also often results in physical hunger pangs, fatigue and lack of concentration and produc- tivity at school, work or play. Then there are the social impacts of food insecurity that most of us wouldn't consider, such as not being able to invite friends and family to dinner or being unable to afford to meet people for coffee. Food poverty can also create stress and con- flict in family relationships and meals are often not a happy gathering opportunity. Here are five things Canadi- ans need to know about food insecurity: 1. Food insecurity significantly affects health. Evidence shows that among children, food insecurity is associated with poorer physi- cal and mental health out- comes, including the develop- ment of a variety of long-term chronic health conditions such as asthma and depression. For adults, research shows that food insecurity is independently associated with increased nutritional vul- nerability, poor self -rated health, poor mental, physical and oral health and multiple chronic health conditions including diabetes, hyperten- sion, heart disease, depres- sion, epilepsy and fibromyal- gia. Studies also show that food insecurity impacts a per- son's ability to provide self- care and manage chronic health conditions. Evidence also shows the health impact of food insecurity exists on a gradient - meaning adults in more severely food - insecure households are more likely to report chronic health conditions as well as receive diagnoses of multiple health conditions. 2. Household food insecurity is a strong predictor of healthcare utilization and costs. A study in Ontario found that among adults, total healthcare costs — including inpatient hospital care, emergency department visits, physician services, same-day surgeries and home care services — increase significantly with the level of household food insecurity. In other words, food insecu- rity costs us all through increased healthcare use. Com- pared with adults in food - secure households, annual healthcare costs were, on aver- age 16 percent (or $235) higher for adults in households with marginal food insecurity, 32 percent (or $455) higher among those with moderate food inse- curity and 76 percent (or $1092) higher among those with severe food insecurity. 3. Food bank use is a poor indicator of food insecurity. Food Banks Canada recently estimated food bank use for a twelve month period at 1.7 mil- lion people, yet the number of food insecure individuals living in Canada is more than double this estimate. The main reason for this discrepancy is that most people struggling to afford the food they need do not turn to charities for help. The evidence suggests that using food banks is a last resort. Because food banks rely on donated food, both the amount and type of food available for distribution is limited, and agencies are una- ble to provide for everyone in need. 4. An adequate and secure level of household income is strongly linked to food security. It is perhaps surprising, but households reliant on wages and salaries make up the majority of food insecure households in Canada at 62 percent. Households whose main source of income was either pensions or dividends and interest had the lowest rate of food insecurity in 2012 at seven percent — compared to 11 percent for people in the workforce and 70 percent for people on social assistance (i.e., welfare and disability support programs). Research- ers suggest the low rate of food insecurity among Canadian seniors reflects the protective effects of our public pension system. 5. Relatively modest increases in income have been found to lessen food insecurity among low- income families. Studies have shown that improved incomes and changes in employment can reduce food insecurity. An example of this can be found in Newfoundland and Lab- rador where evidence shows that from 2007 to 2012 the rate of food insecurity among households living on social assistance in this prov- ince fell from a staggering 60 percent to 34 percent. Dur- ing this time period, the Newfoundland government made several changes to improve the circumstances of people living on social assistance, including increasing benefit levels and indexing them to inflation (until 2012). Let's not let another year go by without addressing food insecurity in Canada. In a country as rich as ours, there's no reason anyone should go hungry. FROM THE ARCHIVES 15 years ago... • The doctor shortage is over for this area Dr Norbert Ekeh will begin his practice this week, sharing an office at the Clinton Medical Centre with Doc- tors Peter Salsbury and Martin Salter. Dr. Ekeh, who has relocated to south- western Ontario form Clarenville, New- foundland, is originally from Nigeria, where he attended medical school. Upon completion of his studies in 1990, he spent six years in the United King- dom, where he received his specializa- tion training as an obstetrician and gynecologist. The arrival of Dr. Ekeh, explained Janice Cosgrove, vice presi- dent of Multi -Site Administration for the Huron -Perth Hospitals Partnership, brings the complement of family practi- tioners for the area served by Clinton Public Hospital to eight. • As three municipalities continue the work to become one, this municipality is on the lookout for a logo. As the Township of Central Huron, whih was formed through the amalgamation of Goderich Township, Hullett Township and Clinton, was still in the planning stages, a call went out to the public for assistance on a logo, but the call was not answered. All three of the former municipalities have some form of logo or crest that was used in the past. The one for Goderich Township was created in 1976 by a competition through the schools, while Hullett and Clinton logos were a result of centennial competi- tions in 1967. 25 years ago... • Hundreds of Huron County farmers packed the Hensall arena on January 9, to learn more about Agriculture Cana- da's two-part National Soil Conserva- tion Program, which allots up to $10,000 per farmer for land and ditch preservation. The federal government has set aside $453,000 for Huron County for eligible farmers who register and comply with the program's require- ments. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's (OMAF) president of the soil and crop committee in Clinton, Lawrence Taylor, and field inspector John Hazlitt, hosted the two-hour semi- nar. The national program was set up to combat stream pollution by livestock and crop run-off. The program also encourages farmers to discontinue pro- duction on fragile farmland or around streams and drains. To qualify for fund- ing, a farmer must be a Canadian citi- zen with property registered in his/her name and must have produced at least $12,000 worth of products in the last 12 months. • Two basketball teams, made up of local residents, will take on the Cana- dian Half -Pints Midget Pro -Basketball Team on January 21. The Clinton Kins- men and Kinettes, and some added local talent, will take on the Half -Pints at Central Huron Secondary School in this fund raising event for the Kinettes. The local Thursday night pick-up squad, who include an array of Clinton people from various professions, and who call themselves the Legends of Basketball, will take on their pint-sized adversaries. The event promises to be a fun filled one, as the Half -Pints have come up with a whole new routine, and will be showing off some of their 60 new sound effects. When baskets are sunk, spectators can expent to hear anything from a car crash, to the explo- sion of firecrackers. 35 years ago... • Close to 150 doctors, nurses and other people involved in the medical profession will be meeting in Clinton on January 28 for a day -long seminar. To be held at the Ontario Street United Church auditorium, the seminar, enti- tled "Obstetrical Up -date" is being sponsored by the Clinton Public Hospi- tal. Staff members at the Clinton hospi- tal, as well as medical professionals from the Goderich, Exeter and Seaforth area will hear three guest speakers. The seminar is the biggest of its kind to be held in the area and grew from an origi- nal monthly seminar concept initiated by Clinton's Dr. Raymond Flowers. • After an absence of several years, Clinton's once popular Winter Carni- val has been revived by the town's Optimist Club, but on a scaled down version. The club decided to try and get the Carnival going again on a more modest scale, and see how pub- lic reaction will be. Most of the events will take place in the Clinton Commu- nity Park and arena. • Seaforth council has rejected a proposal to join with Goderich, Wing - ham, Exeter and Clinton to form a joint police governing body. Council- lor Gerald Groothuis, representing the Seaforth protection to persons and property committee, said it rec- ommended rejecting amalgamation because with other towns handling Seaforth police, "the town would lose input. We would like to keep it in our own hands. The feeling of the com- mittee was we just couldn't trust other towns to run our police." Sea - forth Mayor John Sinnamon added that the formation of such a board would mean the town would lose its control over police negotiations.