Letter to Editor regarding the article "Unwise health cuts will hurt women, children." (Vancouver Sun - April 26, 2012)

2012-59
April 27, 2012
For immediate release

OTTAWA - I am writing in response to your April 26, 2012 article, "Unwise health cuts will hurt women, children."

The article indicates that the reduction in funding to the Women's Health Contribution Program will have a negative effect on women's health.

I want to assure all Canadians that our Government believes in investing substantially to improve the health and wellbeing of Canadian women and we will continue to do so.

Last year alone, through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research we spent $53.8 million towards gender related research. This research will foster a better understanding of the influence of gender specific factors on the health of women and men. I would also like to point out that since 2006 we have spent more than $241 million funding on this type of research.

One major project we funded through this research had to do with the risk of heart disease and stroke in women in the workplace. This was done because most studies previously had focused primarily on men and it will positively contribute to our knowledge of women's health.

We have also played a leadership role in preventing the spread of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer. We spent $300 million between 2007 and 2010 to enable the provinces and territories to ensure HPV immunization programs were put in place. To complement the HPV vaccine public education efforts of the provinces and territories, the Government of Canada has put in place a funding program to support a national HPV information campaign.

Our Government recognizes that investing in maternal health leads to greatly improved long-term health outcomes.  Under the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, we provide $26.5 million in annual community-based funding to programs that promote the health of vulnerable pregnant women and their infants.

With particular regards to First Nations and Inuit Health our Government is also providing $34 million annually to support Maternal and Child Health and $16 million annually to fight Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

In addition to health-specific funding, through the Status of Women Canada, we will be investing up to $18.9M, through grants and contributions, to help promote equality between women and men in all aspects of Canadian life.

These concrete examples demonstrate our government's leadership in supporting better lives and health for women.  The knowledge and improvements we gain through these investments will ensure that our Government's research, policies and programs will lead to better outcomes that will benefit women - and all Canadians.

Sincerely,

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health

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