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No closures planned for health unit offices
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
plans might be affecting the EOHU’s own operations budget plan. The province provides the lion’s share of EOHU operating revenue at about $9.4 million this year, with the Five Counties and City of Cornwall providing the remaining quarter of the $12.5 million EOHU budget. Dr. Roumeliotis confirmed, during a March 6 phone interview, that the provincial funding has been restricted during the past few years, though this year there was a 0.6 per cent increase in the provincial support fund. He also observed that inflation for most of the EOHU’s operation costs well exceed that minimal increase. Still, Roumeliotis noted, the 0.6 per cent increase is a result of a recent provincial
review that noted that the EOHU is one of the largest health regions in the province, and that it and seven other regional health units are underfunded. There are 28 other regional health units in Ontario which did not receive any increase at all to their annual funding allocations. Meanwhile, Roumeliotis and other EOHU staffmembers are working on reducing some fixed operation costs while bothmaintaining existing services programs and keeping local district health unit offices open. “The district offices are important to us,” Dr. Roumeliotis said. “There is no question
“But these are not the flu,” he said, adding that people who got their flu shots earlier in the season and then came down with a head cold should not blame their influenza vaccination. The twomain potential high-risk periods for a flu outbreak among anyone lacking the vaccination are during the Christmas season and during the March/April period, when the weather changes with spring approach- ing. Those are also the high-risk periods for colds. Dr. Roumeli- of closing any of them.” In-house programs like vaccinations, water quality testing, and other services will continue at district offices. EOHU staff will make greater use of mobile-technology systems, where feasible, for some services that do not require residents to go to the district office. Dr. Roumeliotis said the overall cost- effectiveness plan should be in place by next year. “The public outside should not be affected at all,” he said. “We are not closing. We’re maintaining our local operations.”
The bad news for the regional health unit is that it is a victim of provincial spending restraint measures. The good news is that staff are working on a plan to guarantee that the doors stay open at local district health offices and that all current public health services remain available as usual. “We aren’t closing, we aren’t leaving,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, chief medical health officer for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). Last month the United Counties of Prescott-Russell council (UCPR) expressed concern about how provincial budgeting
Head colds not-so-popular winter illness
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
Bouts of influenza are fewer this season but the common cold seems to be trying to fill in the gap among some residents in Eastern Ontario. “We’ve got a lot of head colds,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, chief medical health of- ficer for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) during a phone interviewMarch 6. He noted that the number of influenza
outbreaks has been “sporadic” this sea- son, and even when there are a few cases of flu showing up in some areas, it may be very mild thanks to preventive vac- cination which has helped strengthen the immune system. But, he added, there
Paul Roumeliotis, médecin hygiéniste en chef, a fait remarquer que bien que le vaccin annuel contre la grippe, disponible auprès du bureau de santé, des pharmacies locales et des cliniques médicales, soit efficace contre la plupart des souches de la grippe, il ne peut pas arrêter le virus responsable du rhume.
otis urged people to make sure they practice proper health habits with frequent washing of the hands with antibacterial soap, avoiding situations where they might either contract or spread any germs,
Les résidents de Prescott-Russell n’ont pas à craindre la fermeture d’installations du Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario. Bien que le bureau régional de santé connaisse une insuffisance au chapitre du soutien financier provincial, le Dr Paul Roumeliotis, médecin-hyg iéniste en chef , s’est montré rassurant. En effet, il a signalé que des plans étaient en cours pour réduire une partie des coûts fixes de l’unité régionale de santé, sans avoir à fermer les bureaux locaux, ni à réduire les heures de service ou les services en soi. —photo Gregg Chamberlain
have beenmore cases of other illnesses like the ordinary cold or stomach flu which are caused by different kinds of viruses.
and covering their mouth or nose when they cough or sneeze to prevent airborne transmission of germs.
Service Coordination for People with Developmental Disabilities Coordination des services pour les personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle
Service Coordination for People with Developmental Disabilities Coordination des services pour les personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle
Board of Directors Call for Nomination
Conseil d’administration Appel de candidatures
ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES? Service Coordination for People with Developmental Disabilities (SCS) is a non-profit provincially funded agency that helps individuals and families plan for and connect with community resources. We serve adults and children with a developmental disability and children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Services are provided in both official languages. We are seeking volunteers from within the Ottawa region and from the counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott-Russell and Renfrew. Ideal candidates have demonstrated experience with Board duties and governance issues and exhibit strong leadership and expertise in such areas as:
VOUS AVEZ À CŒUR LE BIEN-ÊTRE DES ENFANTS ET DES ADULTES QUI ONT UNE DÉFICIENCE INTELLECTUELLE? Coordination des services (SCS) pour les personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle est un organisme à but non lucratif, financé par la province, qui aide les personnes et leurs familles à planifier et trouver des ressources communautaires. Nous servons les adultes et les enfants qui ont une déficience intellectuelle ainsi que les enfants ayant un trouble du spectre de l'autisme. Les services sont fournis dans les deux langues officielles. Nous sommes à la recherche de bénévoles de la région d’Ottawa et des comtés de Stormont, Dundas et Glengarry, de Prescott et Russell et de Renfrew. Les candidats idéaux ont fait preuve d’un grand leadership et possèdent une solide expérience dans l’un ou plusieurs des domaines suivants : • les services pour personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle; • les relations communautaires; • la comptabilité et les finances; • les technologies de l’information. Le Conseil a actuellement un besoin particulier de membres dont la langue maternelle est le français. Visitez notre site Web pour en savoir plus : www.scsottawa.on.ca Intéressé(e)? Envoyez-nous un courriel à lhupe@scsottawa.on.ca
• Developmental Services; • Community Relations; • Finance and Accounting; • Information Technology.
The Board currently has a particular need for members whose first language is French. More information at www.scsottawa.on.ca Interested? Send an email to lhupe@scsottawa.on.ca
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