$15.5 million invested in chronic disease prevention by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation
More than 30 organizations from across Canada are uniting as partners in a series of initiatives designed to improve the health of Canadians by preventing chronic disease. A total of $15.5 million is being invested in seven collaborative coalitions addressing such issues as childhood obesity, screening for chronic disease by family doctors, and the unique needs of First Nations communities. The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced the funding today to mark World Cancer Day, February 4th, and Heart Month. Joining her for the announcement was the lead coalition funder Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, along with funders Public Health Agency of Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
"About two-thirds of deaths in Canada are due to chronic diseases. Many of these diseases, such as heart disease and many cancers, can be prevented through healthier lifestyles and healthier communities," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health. "Bringing together the many dedicated organizations working to prevent chronic disease will help to accelerate a vision we all share: healthier children and healthier Canadians in all parts of the country."
An initiative of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and funded under the banner of CLASP - which stands for Coalitions Linking Action and Science for Prevention - the initiatives respond to the fact that many aspects of healthy living - such as maintaining a healthy body weight, quitting smoking and improving the quality of our environment - can reduce the risk for not only many cancers but also other chronic diseases like diabetes, lung disease and heart disease. Coalitions will incorporate scientific, practice and policy expertise, as well as evidence from both research studies and existing programs in their planning, and will build on chronic disease prevention efforts already underway in many provinces and territories.
"CLASP is the first of its kind to support organizations working together in this way to prevent chronic disease," said Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, Chair of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. "The results will benefit Canadians in a range of ways - from tackling childhood obesity to understanding the relationship between our health and the way we have organized our physical living and working environments. This team effort - drawing from and sharing expertise from across the country - truly demonstrates that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."