Immunization for Children and Adolescents
The immunization team increased community protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, offering both routine clinics and targeted catch-up sessions for children and adolescents who missed vaccination opportunities during the pandemic.
Immunization staff notified parents and guardians of students who were behind on vaccinations designated under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. To increase access to vaccination, 18 school-based clinics and 16 community-based catch-up clinics were hosted, supporting the catch-up efforts of more than 2,100 students across RCD.
The immunization team provided an additional 101 school-based clinics during the spring and fall for grade 7 students. Through these clinics, over 4,000 doses of vaccines were given, including Meningococcal, Hepatitis B, and Human Papillomavirus vaccines. As a result of these efforts, vaccine coverage rates for Grade 7 students in RCD were 12-34% higher than the provincial average.
101
grade 7 school-based clinics provided
2100
students brought up to date through catch-up clinics
4,000+
doses provided through school-based clinics
RCDHU ANNUAL REPORT 2023
School Vision Screening
The School Vision Screening program continued through to the end of the school year. Vision screenings were offered to all senior kindergarten students at publicly funded elementary schools across RCD. Between January and June, a total of 508 vision screenings were provided, with 151 students referred to an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam (30% of students screened).
3,995
student dental screenings
445
students identified as having dental areas of concern
School Dental Screening
RCDHU’s School Oral Health Screening Program successfully delivered a total of 3,995 student screenings.
Following in-school screenings, 445 students were identified as having dental areas of concern, representing 11% of the screened population. For those needing follow-up, the dental services team offered the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) program to eligible families, providing free preventative and emergency dental services for children and youth.
You’re the Chef School Program
After an extended pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RCDHU was once again able to offer the You’re the Chef food literacy program to local schools. This program teaches students to develop the skills and confidence to cook nutritious foods.
In-person training was offered to new and previous leaders who were interested in delivering the program in their respective schools. Staff hosted an interactive two-part training session where participants engaged in educational learning and hands-on cooking in the kitchen. Following this training, the You’re the Chef program was successfully implemented in local schools. Leaders and students both reported that the program helped to develop the skills and confidence required to cook nutritious foods.
In-person training was offered to new and previous leaders who were interested in delivering the program in their respective schools. Staff hosted an interactive two-part training session where participants engaged in educational learning and hands-on cooking in the kitchen. Following this training, the You’re the Chef program was successfully implemented in local schools. Leaders and students both reported that the program helped to develop the skills and confidence required to cook nutritious foods.
RCDHU ANNUAL REPORT 2023
The Healthy Families team offered programs and services to foster the healthy growth and development of children and families within RCD.
Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Through the Healthy Babies Healthy Children home-visiting program, RCDHU’s team of Public Health Nurses (PHNs), family home visitors and social workers provided families with opportunities to achieve their full potential.
RCD had 838 births. PHNs responded to 659 postpartum calls, providing support, health teaching, and in-home visits as needed. In addition to telephone support, the Healthy Families team provided 1,371 home visits.
RCDHU continued its partnership with Pembroke Regional Hospital to meet the needs of families. Through the Healthy Babies Healthy Children home-visiting program, RCDHU’s team of Public Health Nurses (PHNs), family home visitors and social workers provided families with opportunities to achieve their full potential and ensure continuity of care once discharged from the hospital. Through the hospital liaison program, PHNs completed postpartum HBHC screening with clients and reviewed a variety of postpartum health teaching, including promotion of the HBHC program and healthy growth and development services.
1,371
home visits
659
post-partum phone calls
post-partum phone calls
Healthy Growth and Development
118
prenatal education participants
132
Parent Child Wellness Clinics
Online prenatal education for expectant parents was offered through the Growing a Healthy Baby program. 118 expectant parents participated in the program.
Parent Child Wellness Clinics (PCWCs) were offered, supporting families with children aged zero to transition to school. 132 PCWCs were delivered, supporting 223 clients.
Additionally, PHNs provided various supports to families through the Family Health intake lines via telephone, email, and fax. A total of 406 inquiries were addressed related to Family Health.
RCDHU ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Public health inspectors investigated health hazards across RCD, providing key public health programming around vector-borne disease management, food safety, water safety, and animal bites.
Ticks and Vector-Borne Disease Management
Diseases spread by ticks such as Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Powassan virus are a concern in Ontario. Staff monitored for the local presence of these diseases through tick dragging activities in targeted areas around the southern portion of RCD and along the Ottawa river. Tick dragging helps to identify the presence of deer ticks, which are capable of transmitting diseases. Risk areas were identified around Arnprior, Calabogie, and Cobden.
Public health inspectors also collected ticks from the public through passive surveillance, with 60 ticks submitted for testing. Of these ticks, 51 were deer ticks and 17 tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
60
ticks submitted for testing
17
ticks tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease
RCDHU inspectors monitored for West Nile virus in the mosquito population over a 10- week period in the summer across various locations around RCD. There were no positive mosquito pools detected.
RCDHU ANNUAL REPORT 2023
1,348
food safety inspections
Food Safety Inspections
All public food establishments (any person or business serving or supplying food to the public) are required to be inspected by public health inspectors to minimize the risk of food-related illness. A total of 1,348 food safety inspections were completed.
Safe Water
RCDHU continued to support the community by offering free drinking water testing service for private residences sourcing water from wells or surface water bodies, such as rivers or lakes. Water samples are checked for the presence of harmful bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Total Coliforms. RCDHU processed a total of 4,914 water samples, helping residents ensure the safety of their drinking water.
From June through August, RCDHU also conducted beach water testing across RCD. A total of 29 beaches were regularly sampled to monitor for high levels of E. coli, a key indicator of water quality and potential health risks to swimmers. As a result of this monitoring, 3 beaches were posted with E. coli warnings.
4,914
water samples processed
29
beaches sampled
Public health inspectors inspected recreational swimming pools, spas, and splashpads. These mandatory inspections ensure that regulatory requirements are in place to protect users from illness and injury. Areas of inspection include water disinfection, equipment use and maintenance, availability of safety equipment, and recordkeeping practices.
RCDHU inspectors also inspected small drinking water systems (SDWS). A SDWS is a water system that provides publicly accessed drinking water that is not provided by a municipally treated source. There are approximately 380 SDWS that provide drinking water access to the public.
RCDHU ANNUAL REPORT 2023