Advocacy In Action - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba

Advocacy In ActionSince its inception, the Heart and Stroke Foundation(HSF) in Manitoba has advocated for heart-healthychanges at the grassroots level. Here are just a fewof the positive outcomes that have occurred over theyears:Physical education in schools: Acting as the past chairof the Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba (PACM),HSF and PACM presented briefs on the importanceof physical education in schools to the provincialgovernment’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures taskforce.Outcome: Physical education is now mandatory in allManitoba schools.Active transportation: The Foundation advocated, tothe City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba,for increased active transportation through adedicated financial commitment, public awareness,and better infrastructure.Outcome: The city organized an active transportationadvisory committee, and a member of PACM will siton the committee. In September 2009, $20 millionwas allocated, through Canada’s Economic ActionPlan, to parks and trails.Recreation Leadership: The Foundation encouragedthe Province of Manitoba to create quality recreationopportunities that are accessible to everyone.Outcome: The Province is updating their recreationpolicy.Nutrition policies in schools: The Manitoba Councilon Child Nutrition references the Heart and StrokeFoundation in a manual they prepared called ANutrition School Handbook. The document helpsschools develop their own nutrition policies such asmaking snacks that include all four food groups, andencouraging healthy eating.Outcome: The Government of Manitoba has madeit mandatory for all schools in the province to have anutrition policy in place.

Indoor smoking is out: With the Manitoba TobaccoReduction Alliance (MANTRA), HSF advised thegovernment to discourage the use of tobacco becauseof its negative health impacts on smokers and thoseexposed to second-hand smoke.Outcome: Indoor smoking in public places andworkplaces in Manitoba is illegal.Community health through food security: TheFoundation is a member of a committee thataddresses food security by working to increasethe consumption of nutritious, low cost foods byManitobans. In addition, the Foundation helped createa top ten list of foods needed by Winnipeg Harvest.Outcome: A provincial, nutritious food basket costinghas been assessed and a summary report is done,www.heartandstroke.mb.ca/nutritousfoodbasket.Provincial regions can use this information for programplanning and policy decisions.Winnipeg Harvest’s list of healthy foods is nowavailable. The top ten list encourages people todonate wholesome items to those in need and donorsto change their own food habits.CPR saves lives: HSF advocated the Good SamaritanProtection Act and accessibility to Automated ExternalDefibrillators in public places.Outcome: The Good Samaritan Protection Actwas passed in December 2006, which ensures thatbystanders who perform CPR are not liable. In June2011, new legislation was passed that will requireinstallation of automated external defibrillators(AEDs), in public places, once the Act is proclaimed.

Eliminating the effects of stroke: HSF took aleadership role in advocating for a provincialCoordinated Stroke Strategy. The goal is to ensurethat all Manitobans have access to the very best strokecare, reduce suffering, and save lives.Outcome: The Brandon Regional Health Centre wasdesignated as the first provincial stroke centre in 2006,followed by the Health Sciences Centre (HSC), and St.Boniface Hospital. The implementation of the strokestrategy has resulted in the following:• The Foundation hosted acute stroke workshopsfor health care professionals, including physicians,nurses, and other health specialists which providednew information regarding all aspects of acutestroke care.• HSF works with MB Telehealth to telecasteducational stroke sessions to hospitals andRegional Health Authorities throughout theprovince. Videoconferencing is the most costeffective and efficient way to disseminate the lateststroke care to medical and professional staff acrossManitoba.• The stroke prevention clinics in Brandon andSteinbach, established with the financial assistanceof HSF, aim to reduce high-risk patients’ chances ofhaving a stroke through rapid access to diagnosticscreening and individualized medical counselling.• An aggressive awareness campaign, held eachJune during Stroke Month, that reiterates thefive warning signs of stroke, and emphasizesthe importance of seeking immediate medicalattention. This donor-funded campaign isadvertised through rural and urban radio, televisionand newspaper outlets, and outdoor advertising.Although there have been many advances in thefight against heart disease and stroke, it is still thenumber one cause of death in Manitoba. Our goal isto lose that “number one” status.