The Sudbury Board of Health was presented with its year-in-review document this week that showed the full depth and scope of public health programs and interactions that were carried out by the staff of Public Health Sudbury and Districts last year.
Medical Officer of Health and CEO Dr. Mustafa Hirji said it was important to see how much work was being done.
"I didn't have the privilege to be here in 2023 to see all the work, but it has been invaluable for me to see the work that's been put forward by the team and to really understand the true depth and excellence that has been done here," Hirji told the board. He said he was impressed by what he saw.
Various division directors of the health unit provided outlines of work that had been done.
Stacey Gilbeau, director and chief nursing officer, spoke of the ongoing opioid crisis in the area.
"The challenge posed by opioids and other substances demanded a multi faceted approach," Gilbeau told the meeting.
She said community engagement and proactive measures were focusing on three key areas — the community drug strategy, the Sudbury opioid summit on toxic drugs and the issuance of drug warnings.
"The community drug strategy was a cornerstone with regular meetings of both the executive and steering committee to shape an effective collaborative strategy," she said.
"The Greater Sudbury Summit on toxic drugs was a pivotal event, bringing together a diverse range of experts and stakeholders to discuss the pressing issue of toxic drugs," Gilbeau added.
The summit was carried out in the first week of December of 2023. Since then the health unit has issued one statement on that event that was published online January 31, 2024. It said the summit worked to pave the way for collective action. Roughly five months have passed since the summit was held.
Stacey Laforest, director of the health protection division, commented on the work carried out in the community to maintain the safety of such things as food, water and the environment.
"Under the food safety program, public health inspectors conducted over 2500 inspections of local businesses," she said. This resulted in nearly 250 food complaint investigations that resulted in six charges being laid and two corrective orders issued.
Gilbeau said public health staff also collected hundreds of water samples, to investigate hundreds of adverse drinking water reports, which resulted in the issuance of 20 boil water advisories.
Laforest said her department also provided support to the Ontario Building Code as it pertains to private sewage systems. This resulted in more than 300 consultations and inquiries, more than 300 sewage system permits issued, and more than 50 maintenance inspections done.
Under the Smoke Free Ontario Act, Laforest said public health inspectors conducted intense surveillance.
"Inspectors conducted close to 700 inspections of tobacco and e-cigarette vendors to verify and confirm compliance with provincial restrictions and promotion. Over 70 chargers were issued to individuals across our service area." She said the charges included smoking on school property and smoking on hospital property.
Renée St Onge, director of knowledge and strategic services, commented on the role of this department.
"Our division provides information to staff and to our partners and area residents to better understand the needs of our community," she said.
"In 2023, as in previous years, the team fielded a large number of requests for expert advice and data products in a wide range of topics."
This includes such things as infectious and communicable diseases, mental health and substance use, and COVID-19 vaccinations.
This includes Population Health Assessment and Surveillance, said St. Onge.
The rapid risk factors surveillance system collects data from area residents to better understand their health and health behaviors, and also to support program and service planning decisions.
She added the staff watches current and emerging health concerns so it can be responsive. In 2023, St. Onge said public health staff were involved in a total of 13 research and evaluation projects, which were also reviewed by the research ethics review committee.
Kathy Dokis, director of Indigenous public health, spoke on the work in that department.
"The Indigenous engagement team continued the advancement of the agency strategy, finding our path together," said Dokis.
"The key focus on Strategic Direction III, strengthened our capacity for a culturally competent workforce, included Board of Health Training in May, two voluntary agency-wide training opportunities and one mandatory," she told the board.
She said public health staff members were also encouraged to participate in various community events that focussed on the role and importance of the Indigenous culture, such as the Reflection Walk. Dokis said the health unit has also developed an agency wide policy for performing indoor smudge ceremonies.
"Additionally, updates are made to our existing Indigenous engagement policies," said Dokis.
"As a follow up to the training that took place, a survey was conducted to collect feedback from staff to determine the impact it had on their cultural competency. A full report has been completed and an executive summary is being put together to distribute to all staff."
Len Gillis covers health care and mining for Sudbury.com.
