Resources

How to survive our patchwork health care

Like all too many Canadians, I could draw from personal experiences with the health-care system, along with family and friends, and pull together a list of near disasters, lengthy waits and incredible inefficiencies. Thankfully, I could also do the same in the other direction: List all the times the health system was there when we needed it, and worked in a well-oiled, fine-tuned fashion to save and improve the quality of our lives.

According to Michael Decter and Francesca Grosso, founding members of the Health Council of Canada and authors of Navigating Canada's Health Care, while our health system may be "universal" -- meaning everyone in Canada has the right to health coverage -- it is by no means "uniform," in quality of care and service or even in what qualifies for coverage. This may be why the authors titled the book as they did, omitting the word "system" where it typically falls (our "health care system"), since we don't really have one: We have 13, one for every province and territory in Canada .

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Health Council of Canada releases third annual report to Canadians
The report, entitled Health Care Renewal in Canada: Measuring Up?, assesses the progress made in health care renewal and the fulfillment of federal, provincial and territorial commitments outlined in the 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal and the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. The report examines our collective capacity to measure the performance of health care systems across the country and suggests ways to bolster transparency and accountability in health care.

Included with the report are tables comparing progress in health care renewal by province and territory, as well as a synthesis report on Canadian perceptions of the health care system (2002-2006) by McGill University Prof. Stuart Soroka.

Copies of the report and supporting materials are available online at healthcouncilcanada.ca.

How being Black and female affects your health

From the Canadian Health Network

Many complex factors affect the health of Black women....
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* On the CHN Women page: SPOTLIGHT on Black women's health, highlighting Web resources from the CHN collection

Take care of your brain

From the Canadian Health Network 

It's the vital link to every other part of the body...
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Her Own Way: A Woman's Guide to Safe Successful Travel

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 2006

Now, more than ever, this booklet is a woman's key to safe and successful travel. Since the first edition was published nearly 10 years ago, the world of women's travel has evolved. From young backpackers to experienced businesswomen, females of all ages are exploring the planet in growing numbers. They are venturing further and touring, studying and working in more remote and sometimes less secure areas than they once dared. This trend continues against a global backdrop of increasing security concerns and our own country's changing societal norms. Like never before, it is essential that women educate themselves to travel the world safely and responsibly.

Read the booklet: Her Own Way: A Woman's Guide to Safe Successful Travel

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV Vaccine

Public Health Agency of Canada, 2006

This article presents timely information on the human papillomavirus, including recommended ways to protect yourself from infection, and answers questions you may have about vaccination.

Read the article: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV Vaccine: Questions and Answers

Also see: Cervical Cancer : New technologies offer opportunities for prevention, but women's voices are missing from policies and programs

Evidence for Homeopathic Medicines

Natural Health Products Directorate, 2006

The Natural Health Products Regulations require all homeopathic medicines to have a licence before being sold in Canada. Licence holders are issued a product number which must appear on the label of their product. The product number for homeopathic medicines is preceded by DINHM. To obtain a DIN-HM, a Product Licence Application (PLA) form must be completed by applicants. These applications are assessed by the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD), which is responsible for issuing product licences for all natural health products (NHPs). The NHPD uses evidence submitted by applicants to critically assess the safety, efficacy and quality of NHPs prior to approving them for sale in Canada. The legal requirements for NHPs in Canada are found in the Regulations. This guide is based on the Regulations and is intended to be used as a tool when applying for a product number (DIN-HM) for a homeopathic medicine.

Read the guide: Evidence for Homeopathic Medicines (PDF 510KB/64p.)

Sage Publications offering free access to journals

Sage Publications Inc. will be offering free f ree online access to current and back issues of selected SAGE Gender studies journals until 31st March 2007. https://online.sagepub.com/cgi/register?registration=FT6056

Creating Healthy Personal Relationships: An Information Booklet for Aboriginal Women

This booklet is for anyone who wants more information about dealing with abuse or violence in a personal relationship. It includes an overview of the legal rights of Aboriginal women on reserves.  Although men can be victims of spousal violence too, it usually is women and children.  The booklet discusses how the community, the courts, and the police can help. Everyone deserves to live without fear of violence.

For more information and to download the booklet please visit:
http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/showpub.asp?id=124&langid=1

Keeping All Your Eggs in One Basket

More and more science is discovering that removing perfectly healthy ovaries during a hysterectomy is a medical mistake. Barbara Seaman, a longtime rabble-rouser for women's health makes a plea for challenging knife-happy surgeons.

Read the article (PDF reader required)

This article was originally published in the October 2006 issue of O (The Oprah Magazine). It is made available to CWHN's readers with the author's permission.