Public Health Sudbury appealing to province to extend new infection control funding
Public Health Sudbury and Districts plans to appeal to the province to fund one of its newer programs indefinitely.
The health unit has been visiting congregate living settings, like seniors homes and assisted living facilities, providing them with best tools and practices on how prevent infection since February.
The team of four has so far seen 92 sites across the region and has a goal to visit all of them by the end of March of next year.
The one-time funding they did receive was only expected to last 13 months and officials say there has been an overwhelming amount of positive reception to their visits.
"So we're hoping in combination with what we've accomplished so far and in line with the report that the provincial government recognizes the need for ongoing financial support to health units, hospitals - these networks of expertise to be able to continue this work with our settings," said Holly Browne, Manager of the Health Protection Division.
"They (congregate facilities) don't always have the knowledge or the skills as how to put an IPAC plan in place and this is where Public Health comes in, they're happy, they learn, it makes sense, they put in place and they feel like 'hey we're going to be able to protect our residents', they feel good about this and the residents should feel good about it too because it will protect them," said France Gelinas, Nickel Belt MPP.
The health unit's board voted to make the official request to the province on Thursday.
The program deals with not only COVID-19 but other communicable diseases including influenza, SARS and H1N1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.