Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
Life

Doctor's Orders for B.C.

The Provincial health Officer prescribes these health practices for individuals - and government.

Barbara McLintock 15 Dec 2003TheTyee.ca

Barbara McLintock, a regular contributor to The Tyee, is a freelance writer and consultant based in Victoria and author of Anorexia’s Fallen Angel.

TheTyee.ca

Dr. Perry Kendall recently issued his annual report on the health of B.C. [see related story in the Tyee]. He has these top 10 recommendations for individuals that want to improve their own and their family's health:

  1. Don't smoke.
  2. Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
  3. Remain physically active.
  4. Drink alcohol responsibly.
  5. Practice safe sex.
  6. Use preventive services (such as immunizations and mammograms).
  7. Use safety devices (seatbelts, lifejackets, smoke detectors and bicycle helmets).
  8. Protect yourself and your children from the sun.
  9. Learn basic first aid.
  10. Adopt an attitude of lifelong learning.

And his top 10 for government:

  1. Support healthy child development.
  2. Make equal access to quality education a priority.
  3. Create a healthy, diverse economy.
  4. Provide supportive programs and policies to protect the disadvantaged.
  5. Implement evidence-based programs to promote non-smoking, responsible alcohol use, regular physical activity, healthy eating and other healthy behaviours.
  6. Continue to support and expand broad public health programs (such as universal childhood immunizations, food and water testing, and injury prevention programs).
  7. Continue to support and expand programs that help citizens become wiser health consumers (such as the B.C. Nurse Line and accurate health information online).
  8. Be committed to health research, analysis of trends and evaluation of programs, particularly for new policy directions.
  9. Continue to build an evidence-based culture focused on appropriate health care services.
  10. Create safer and healthier indoor and outdoor environments.
 [Tyee]

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Do You Think Naheed Nenshi Will Win the Alberta NDP Leadership Race?

Take this week's poll