Symposium for the Future of Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention in Nova Scotia
Public health professionals, health charities, researchers and representatives from across the province will gather to lay the groundwork for the future of cancer and chronic disease prevention in Nova Scotia.
Integrated Action: Imagine the Impact: Advancing Health Promoting Policy in Nova Scotia will be on Wednesday, April 1, in Halifax. The symposium is being co-ordinated by Cancer Care Nova Scotia.
"Nova Scotia is making good progress in the prevention of chronic disease but there's still work to be done," said Pat Dunn, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "We've taken steps to make sure children and youth have healthy food options in schools and opportunities to be physically active. We've significantly reduced tobacco use, and we're working to reduce harmful alcohol use. All of these things will contribute to a healthier province in the long-term."
"We're coming together as a province to advance public policy that will promote health," said Theresa Marie Underhill, chief operating officer of Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "Individual action and effective policy are needed to support cancer and chronic disease prevention and affect population health. This symposium brings the right people together to review the evidence and identify where action is needed."
The symposium follows from significant research and policy work done on the international stage by the World Cancer Research Fund, which recently released two major reports on the issue.
"We want to take a closer look at the policy implications of these reports for Nova Scotians," said Ms. Underhill. "We want to examine how we as a province can integrate our efforts across risk factors and sectors to move forward on the global recommendations relating to cancer and chronic disease prevention."
The symposium includes a keynote presentation on the reports and policy recommendations by Geoffrey Cannon, chief editor with the World Cancer Research Fund International. Dr. Louise Parker, endowed chair in population cancer research, Canadian Cancer Society - Nova Scotia Division, will discuss how this global work can be applied to Nova Scotia.
A panel of experts led by Dr. Jon Kerner, chair of the primary prevention action group, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, will explore what is required in Nova Scotia to create a cultural shift in attitude towards obesity, food, nutrition, physical activity and alcohol.
"As we look at the recommendations and the implications of the international reports for Nova Scotia, we will also be looking at a healthier future for our citizens and their families," said Ms. Underhill.
Cancer Care Nova Scotia, a program of the Department of Health, was created 10 years ago to enable quality cancer prevention and care for all Nova Scotians. Through Cancer Patient Navigation, health professional education, and standards and guideline development, Cancer Care Nova Scotia supports health professionals in providing patients with high quality care. Its work with other organizations raises awareness about the importance of healthy lifestyles in reducing cancer risk, and its screening programs educate Nova Scotians about healthy lifestyles and available testing like Pap tests for cervical cancer and the FIT kit for colorectal cancer. The goal is to find cancer earlier and treat it better.