The Report of the Medical Officer of Health On the State of the Health Unit In the Year 1999

At the beginning of the new millennium it is with pleasure, and a sense of privilege that I reflect on our progress over the past year.

Our challenges in 1999 included the unexpected change in our funding relationship with the province. Our Long Range Resource Planning Options 1999 to 2004 report provides us with the documented justification for base-funding increases that will help us better fulfill our mandate in the years to come. Although ongoing effort will undoubtedly be required to ensure the adequacy of our resource base, this report will serve as the cornerstone in this pursuit.

The Health Unit underwent considerable internal review, revision, renewal and growth over the past year. We revised our organizational structure by a means involving our staff, that was directed at meeting their occupational needs. Overall our complement of staff increased.

We are committed to our mandate - to protect and promote the health of the citizens of Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. In 1999, we had success on this front in numerous ways as reflected in the program activities described throughout this report. We acknowledge that the achievement of better health for all is a responsibility that we share with our many partner agencies and with the community at large and have succeeded in working well with them.

The Board of Health continues to be steadfast in its leadership of the Health Unit, and in its support for our mandate and our staff. We are also fortunate to have a body of highly skilled, insightful and dedicated staff, who consistently perform to their utmost. Overall, we pursued a proactive approach in meeting our challenges, and will continue in this way into the year 2000 and beyond.