On November 20, 2019, the province announced the launch of the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program. Acknowledging that finances have prohibited some seniors from being able to receive dental care the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program supports low-income seniors. Ontarians aged 65 and over with an income of $19,300 or less or couples with a…
Is lead a concern in my children’s school, private school, and child care centre? Drinking water supplied by the City of Ottawa is lead-free. However, lead can dissolve into drinking water during its contact with lead pipes, brass fixtures, and lead solder if these were present within a school. All schools, private schools and child…
Program updates coming in spring 2020 On September 25, 2019, Council approved updates to the Lead Pipe Replacement Program, including minor updates to its existing loan program, and two new enhancements that will be implemented by spring 2020: Rebate option A new rebate of up to $1,000 – approximately 20% of the pipe replacement cost –…
Winter is the best time to test your home! Ottawa residents are encouraged to test their homes for radon gas to ensure levels do not exceed health guidelines. Long-term exposure to high levels of this harmful gas can cause lung cancer—and smoking can increase this risk by ten-fold or more. Radon is a naturally occurring…
For more than 40 years, Margaret Knight has been running the free breakfast program at the Foster Farm Community Centre. Sadly, she has to step down for health reasons and is no longer able to continue this very important and appreciated program. Hundreds of community children benefit from a healthy breakfast every day. The community…
In collaboration with community partners, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is working to increase awareness of the risks associated with cannabis use through various tactics that target the 55 plus age group. Making informed choices starts with understanding what the evidence says about the health and safety risks. The aging process can affect how older adults…
If you have questions about Influenza you can refer to Ottawa Public Health. They will answer questions such as: Where can I get my flu vaccine? What flu vaccines are available this year? What can I do to prevent the flu? Is the flu vaccine safe? What is the difference between a cold and flu?…
Mental Illness Awareness Week October 6-12, 2019 Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), October 6-12, 2019, is an annual Canadian public education campaign designed to bring awareness to the reality of mental illness. The week was established in 1992 by the Canadian Psychiatric Association and is now coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and…
Ottawa – Ottawa Public Health has received lab notification of the first human case of West Nile virus infection in Ottawa for the 2019 West Nile virus season. Final lab confirmation is pending. On warm days, mosquitoes potentially carrying West Nile virus can still bite and transmit the infection to humans. This will continue until…