Public Health – Southern Health RHA

All ages, individuals, families and groups

Public health practice can be viewed as an approach to maintaining and improving the health of all people. The work public health does is based on the principles of social justice, attention to human rights and equity, evidence-informed care, and addressing the social determinants of health. This approach places health promotion, health protection, population health (detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases), and the prevention of death, disease, injury and disability as the central themes of all related public health work.

Prenatal Support: The Public Health Nurse (PHN) can provide prenatal education and offer resources and supports during pregnancy for individuals and/or families. This could include education and support for a healthy pregnancy, plans of labour and delivery, goals for parenting; Postpartum Support: After a baby is delivered the PHN provides support for parents and well baby assessments. Discussion could include: breastfeeding, postpartum adjustments for the family, baby care and growth and development; Parenting Support: PHNs can provide family support and resources related to parenting and attachment at any age; Breastfeeding support: PHNs have a wealth of knowledge related to breastfeeding and can support a breastfeeding family at any stage; Child Health Clinics: the St Pierre PHN holds regular child health clinics (CHCs) at the St. Pierre public health office by appointment. Here the PHN assesses a child’s growth and development (well baby ‘checkup’), explores expected developmental milestones, discusses family health and well-being and can offer immunizations. PHNs can support families in accessing services and make referrals. Immunizations: PHNs offer immunizations to children and adults, individuals or families throughout the age span; Harm Reduction Resources and Supplies; Healthy Sexuality Resources and Supplies