Cumberland Health Authority

Community Health Boards

Pugwash and Area Community Health Board

Area Served
The Pugwash & Area Community Health Board (CHB) is comprised of all areas in and around the communities of Malagash, Northport, Oxford, Pugwash, Wallace, Wentworth and Westchester, with a population base of approximately 6000.

What does our Community Health Board Do?
Our Community Health Board consists of 9-15 members from our area who have a legislated role under the Health Authorities Act. Community Health Boards shall:

1. foster community development that encourages the public to actively participate in health planning and service delivery;
2. construct a community profile that identifies the deficiencies and strengths of the community with respect to factors that affect health including income and social status, social support networks, education, employment, physical environments, inherited factors, personal health practices and coping skills, child development and health services in the community;
3. prepare and maintain an inventory of community-based health services delivered in the community;
4. assess community health needs and community based health services in relation to those needs;
5. make bylaws subject to the approval of the District Health Authority;
6. provide such other advice and assistance that the District Health Authority requests
7. manage, or assist in the management of, community development grants on behalf of the Minister or the District Heath Authority, or with the approval of the Minister or the District Health Authority; and
8. perform such other functions as the Minister may authorize in the regulations.

Some of our recent accomplishments:
The Pugwash and Area Community Health Board members are very proud of their accomplishments in our community. We have been very active in the process of getting to know our community and having you learn about us. We are very excited about the ways we have been able to partner with other groups in our community as well.

For the last three years, the CHB has been conducting a program called Wash Your Hands. A bar of soap and hand washing instructions have been distributed to all elementary and high school students in our area during cold and flu season to remind them of the necessity of proper hand washing in the prevention of transmission of the cold and flu. Our Pugwash High School students have contributed to the project by designing activities which are appropriate for the elementary students and these are distributed to elementary teachers for use in their classrooms. We also wish to acknowledge the contribution of Sunset Industries who package up all our samples for us in preparation for the schools.

For the last two years, the Pugwash and Area CHB has worked in conjunction with the other two CHBs in Cumberland County to provide the community with easier access to well water testing. Residents have been asked to pick up a test bottle at the North Cumberland Memorial Hospital and return it at specified times. The bottles are transported to the lab at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre and results returned to residents.

The last two years at the Gathering of the Clans, we have held a Sunscreen Program. We have been on site to distribute sunscreen samples and information about skin cancer to those in attendance. A thousand samples have been distributed each year to area residents and visitors. We wish to thank the Canadian Cancer Society for their cooperation and support and also Sunset Industries for their assistance in packaging and distribution on site.

This year was our first year holding the Drive Alive 55 program in conjunction with the Fundy Driving School. Sixty-four area residents attended the course which reminds us about safe driving practices in addition to upgrading our skills with the view to keep us safe and independent on the road.

The Gathering Place was a new program supported by our CHB this year. Seniors met monthly for lunch, social opportunities and educational sessions provided by local professionals.

Look for our new Medication Information Cards in the community. This is the result of collaboration between all three community health boards in Cumberland County. These wallet-sized cards are to be completed by each individual and will keep an accurate record of current medications an individual is taking.

Our Community Health Board is hoping to begin a Dental Health Program in the schools this year in which dental hygiene materials will be distributed to students in our area.

Wellness Fund Grants:
Each year, the community health boards receive some funds from the Office of Health Promotion to sponsor programs in our community which improve the health of residents. Each year applications for grants are reviewed and those which best reach the health promotion goals are chosen. Some of the projects chosen include:

Creative Aging This is a chair Yoga program for seniors run by Mary Purdy at the Cyrus Eaton Elementary School. The program is run year round and has over 25 in regular attendance.

JUMP This is a program run by Mary Purdy at the Pugwash District High School which assists students in dealing with anger management and emotional and social skills.

Sunset Fitness This program has provided the residents of Sunset an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of Yoga and massage therapy.

Pop-up This program is run by Maggie’s Place to support new parents in dealing with the challenges of parenthood.

The Pugwash and Area Community Health Board is committed to promoting the health of our area residents. We are an active group of individuals who are willing to volunteer our time for you, the residents of our community. We are proud of our commitment and our accomplishments. If you think you might be interested in joining our group, let us know by contacting Todd Benson.

PUGWASH and AREA CHB - The Place to Be!!!

Recruitment for service on the Board is ongoing. To apply, send resume and covering letter:

c/o Todd Benson
Public Health Services
!8 South Albion St.
Amherst, N.S. B4H 2W3
902-661-1464