Renfrew County and District Health Unit

“Optimal Health for all in Renfrew County and District”

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Mission

Optimal Health for All in Renfrew County and District.

Vision

Renfrew County and District Health Unit protects and promotes the health and well-being of all.

Land Acknowledgement

Renfrew County and District Health Unit is located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe People.

We honour the land and peoples of the Algonquin Anishinaabe, whose ancestors have lived on this territory since time Immemorial, and whose culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land.

We honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, their elders, their ancestors and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

Mìgwech

The 2023 Annual Report for Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) illustrates the tremendous commitment of our staff. It was a year of renewal and optimism as we worked together with community partners to advance our vision of “Optimal Health for All in Renfrew County and District.”

Several new initiatives began across RCDHU’s infectious diseases and immunization programs. The respiratory illness data summary tool was launched as an accessible way for community members and partners to view the local respiratory virus risk level. Also newly introduced this year, the Getakit program provides residents with access to sexual health services from the privacy of home, increasing testing access and linking people to treatment. Finally, a new publicly funded vaccine program was introduced in the fall of 2023 to protect higher risk older adults against respiratory syncytial virus(RSV).

RCDHU strengthened and renewed additional key services. School dental screenings were increased, and more dentures and dental services were provided through the Ontario Seniors Dental Care program. Public health inspectors further increased their food safety work with local restaurants, conducting over 1300 inspections. The You’re the Chef food literacy program for local schools was reinstated, promoting healthy eating habits among students. Additionally, the newly launched Yellow Ribbon Dog campaign raised awareness about rabies prevention and reducing the number of animal bites in Renfrew County and District (RCD).

There were 41 suspect drug-related deaths in RCD – higher than any previous year. Naloxone, a medication that can prevent opioid-related deaths, was increasingly promoted and 50% more kits were distributed from RCDHU than in 2022. RCDHU staff continued to play a leadership role in coordinating the opioid overdose response table, issuing four overdose alerts with partners and communicating about the local impact of the opioid crisis.

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