July 28, 2005
For Immediate Release

News Release

Health Minister Announces Funding for Public Health Association of BC Project to Strengthen Public Health Capacity

OTTAWA - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today announced funding of $402,785 to the Public Health Association of British Columbia for a project titled Building Capacity for Public Health in BC.

"I'm delighted to announce that the Public Health Association of BC has been successful in its application for funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada's Population Health Fund," said Minister Dosanjh. "This project will lead to greater collaboration and information exchanges among public health professionals and partners in BC."

The Building Capacity for Public Health in BC project will facilitate collaboration and information exchange among networks of public health professionals. The project activities will include: mapping out the basic infrastructure of public health services to identify and better link health functions in the province; providing access to a virtual on-line public health community to facilitate cost effective communications; and establishing and supporting a multi-sectoral network and coalition of partners across the continuum of public health.

Founded in 1953 and incorporated as a non-profit society in 1980, the mandate of the Public Health Association of British Columbia (PHABC) is to preserve and promote the public's health. PHABC is a provincial branch of the Canadian Public Health Association.

This project has been developed in close collaboration with the province of BC, and is aligned with key areas of innovation in public health in the region. "It is our hope that the increased public health capacity will support implementing a regional public health strategy," said Minister Dosanjh.

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Media Inquiries:

Aggie Adamcyzk
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189

Adèle Blanchard
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991