2006-06-15
Author: Rae Hathaway
47 communities are sharing in two million dollars from the province, through the Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative. It targets diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory disease. 

Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald notes the benefits of the program will go beyond the centres receiving funding. She thinks the successes coming out of this funding can be duplicated elsewhere in the future.

Sandy Bay First Nation is one of the 47 communities receiving money. Oswald points out 20 aboriginal centres have received funding, in recognition of the the disparity in health status of First Nations. 

She believes this initiative will go a long way toward preventing chronic disease at a grassroots level.