Working together for a healthier world

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/7/2014 (2142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is becoming more and more true that we don’t live alone — instead, we are part of a global community.  

Part of living in a community is recognizing other people’s good ideas and working together towards a shared vision.

Our award-winning Wellness Institute at the Seven Oaks General Hospital is working hard to share their best practices and ideas with health care professionals around the world — most recently with officials from China.

The Wellness Institute’s holistic, leading-edge approach to health care has attracted the attention of top Chinese officials. Thirty hospital executives and senior officials from the Chinese Hospital Association visited Seven Oaks Hospital on July 2 to 4 to study their integrated health and wellness programs, with the goal of adapting it for China.  

The Wellness Institute’s mission is to combine preventative strategies, chronic disease management and rehabilitation under one roof. This includes everything from cooking classes to pilates and a sports injury clinic, all next door and directly connected to the Seven Oaks Hospital.

Disease prevention in particular is so important. In recent decades, the rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and heart, lung and kidney disease have been increasing in Canada. Canadians are not getting as much physical exercise as they used to, and more prepackaged, sugary food is available than ever before.  

China, too, is struggling to combat these lifestyle-related diseases. It is wonderful to see such an innovative partnership develop with healthy living leaders here in Manitoba. This is a true testament to the creativity and vision of our health care professionals right here at home.

On Wed., July 2, I was pleased to attend a reception for the Chinese delegates hosted by our Lieutenant Governor, the Hon. Philip S. Lee at Government House. My NDP colleagues,Ministers Dave Chomiak and Kerri Irvin-Ross, were also in attendance, as well as the Board Chair of the Wellness Institute, Donald MacDonald and members of the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural Association. My colleague Sharon Blady, Minister of Healthy Living and Seniors, presented greetings on behalf of the province.

More and more we are coming to recognize that healthy living requires supports beyond what a traditional doctor’s office can provide on its own. I look forward to seeing what new ideas our Wellness Institute will model in the future for Manitoba and for our international community.   

If you have any questions or ideas about how we can continue to build up Manitoba, please feel free to contact my office at 204-632-7933 or email me at Mohinder.Saran@YourManitoba.ca.