Lung Association Congratulates Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Looks Forward To Continued Partnership On Improving Lung Health

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 31 Oct 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The Lung Association was pleased today by the appointment of Leona Aglukkaq as Canada's new Minister of Health. At the same time, the Association thanked former Minister Tony Clement for his help over the past 2.5 years in advancing the lung health agenda in Canada.

"Throughout the mandate of Minister Clement, and with the support of the Prime Minister, we made encouraging progress on advancing the lung health of Canadians," said Nora Sobolov, President and CEO of The Lung Association, "Minister Aglukkaq understands the very real respiratory health challenges facing Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities - and we stand ready to work with her to meet these challenges. We are confident that Minister Aglukkaq will be as strong as an advocate for better lung health as her predecessor, and look forward to working with her to improve the respiratory health of the one in five Canadians living with lung disease".

Over the past two years, The Lung Association, the federal government, and respiratory health stakeholders nationwide have been working hard to build The National Lung Health Framework - Canada's first national action plan on lung health that will work to lower rates of lung disease in Canada. The plan will improve the respiratory health of all people living in Canada through collaborative and equitable patient care, policy, programming, research and leadership. It is an action plan that recognizes the key link between the environment and lung health, and that will take steps to address both indoor and outdoor air quality issues. It should be noted that the National Lung Health Framework is the first health strategy in the world that tackles both environment and health and is the result of collaboration among dozens of organizations and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to reducing the burden of lung disease in Canada.

During the recent federal election campaign, referencing his government's commitment to lung health, Prime Minister Harper announced an initial funding investment of $10 million over two years to begin implementing the National Lung Health Framework. The Association looks forward to seeing this commitment in the 2009 federal budget, and will continue working with Health Minister Aglukkaq, her Cabinet and caucus colleagues, and all Parliamentarians, to ensure that lung health remains a priority in the 40th Parliament. As well, the Association and its partners will continue working with the government and all Parliamentarians to ensure that the Framework is fully funded before the next federal election.

Once fully implemented, the National Lung Health Framework will:

Position Canada as a global health leader: it is the first-ever health strategy in the world that tackles environment and health;

Lay out a clear plan for chronic disease prevention, management and treatment - the Framework is a model in alignment with the World Health Organization's approach to chronic disease prevention, management and treatment1;

Make Canadians a partner in their own health care and management through education, awareness programs and other initiatives;

Result in reduced health care costs, improved access to care, lower wait times and hospitalizations;

Lower rates of lung disease among First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities through partnership and collaboration, and make real progress in addressing health disparities among these communities;

Build lasting partnerships among key stakeholders, including provincial/territorial governments, patients, health experts, scientists, clinicians, environmentalists, and industry, to improve respiratory health.

For information on the National Lung Health Framework, please visit http://www.lung.ca/framework.

"We encourage the new Minister of Health, and all Parliamentarians, to work with us and all respiratory health stakeholders to ensure that we do whatever it takes to help all Canadians breathe easier" said Ms. Sobolov.

Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.

1The WHO has a four pillar approach to chronic disease prevention, management and treatment around the following disease groups: respiratory, cancer, diabetes and heart. The Lung Health Framework positions Canada within this model.

The Lung Association