Message from the Medical Officer of Health & The Chair of the Board Of Health

The year 2003 has been eventful. SARS proved to be the first international epidemic of the new millennium and strained to the limit the public health system. West Nile virus returned to Canada with even greater numbers of cases than in 2002, the bulk of these in the western provinces. Although we had no cases of either of these diseases, as a health unit we took action to minimize the potential for these diseases.

Most of our work is of lower profile. Over the course of the 20 century life expectancy of Canadians increased by thirty years, mostly due to improvements in general living conditions and to public health measures. Safeguarding drinking water and food, promoting infection control practices, promoting strong tobacco bylaws, promoting sexual, reproductive and child health, responding to environmental health hazards and to outbreaks of disease, and providing vaccines; These basics will always be important.

Mr. Bill Widenmaier Chair of the Board of Health
Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health

Join Us For Our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING January 15, 2004 - 7pm CJ’s Banquet Hall - 803 Chelsea Ct, Brockville SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Fraser Mustard, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research RSVP to Heather Bruce (613) 345-5685 ext. 2248 by Jan 8, 2004