April 30, 2013
For immediate release
I welcome the findings and recommendations made in the 2013 Spring Report of the Auditor General about diabetes prevention and control. The Government has implemented or is in the process of implementing all recommendations in the Report.
Prevention is critical to tackling diabetes. Our federal approach to diabetes prevention is based on helping Canadians reduce their risk. One in three Canadian children is overweight or obese and we know that’s a major contributing factor in developing Type 2 diabetes. That’s why our Government is partnering with organizations like the YMCA and AIR MILES to encourage Canadians to do physical activities. Our approach focuses on risk factors and on partnerships that can help Canadians live healthy lives.
The Public Health Agency of Canada recently released its Preventing Chronic Disease Strategic Plan 2013-2016. This plan provides a roadmap that describes our priorities for the next three years and how we intend to meet them. It articulates how, through ongoing and improved coordination with partners at all levels, we will address risk factors such as obesity to prevent chronic diseases, including diabetes.
The Agency is also taking a new approach to funding programs for healthy living and chronic disease prevention that is based on partnerships that span both the private and public sectors. We’re encouraging innovation so that our funding has the greatest possible reach and impact for Canadians. And we continue to share the work of our partners with the public through the Canadian Best Practices Portal, a one-stop shop for information on effective programs in health promotion and chronic disease prevention.
The Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative aims to reduce the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and its complications in Aboriginal communities. The program supports health promotion and disease prevention activities and services, delivered by trained community health workers and health service providers.
Finally, our well-established national surveillance system for chronic diseases continues to be enhanced, and we are investing significantly in research aimed at better understanding and preventing chronic diseases, including diabetes.
The Auditor General's recommendations will guide us in the steps we are taking and in coordinating our work with our partners.
Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
