Quandaries about quinoa? Confused by cholesterol? Blood sugars got you baffled?
If you’ve got questions about just about any topic relating to you or your family’s health, Lake Cowichan has an event for you.
On Saturday, Lake Cowichan’s Centennial Hall will be the place to be to find answers, explore new possibilities and gain awareness of all manner of topics relating to health and wellness.
From diet to diabetes, chiropractors to chondroitin, allergies to Zumba, this event will cover it all.
“We’re pretty excited by the response that we’ve had so far,” said Lake Cowichan Town Councillor and Choose Cowichan Lake organizer, Bob Day. “We have almost 50 health care providers coming to set up tables on a huge variety of topics. It will give people an opportunity to see what’s available all under one roof.”
The event is sponsored by Choose Cowichan Lake, the group formed originally to try and recruit doctors to Lake Cowichan after the community learned our last doctor was closing up shop.
The Town of Lake Cowichan was awarded a Healthy Communities Grant from the provincial government and partnered with the group to make the Health Fair a reality.
“Council was able to meet with the provincial Minister of Health, the Honourable Terry Lake last September,” said Day. “We talked about what we had (in regard to health for our community) and what we felt we needed.”
Along with the fair showcasing a wide variety of wellness practitioners, it will also introduce the community to the newly formed Primary Health Care Unit, which will operate out of the Kaatza Health Centre.
The unit is a model that has already been successfully implemented in island communities like Ladysmith and Gabriola Island. People with chronic health issues may be referred to the unit by their doctor or can use the team to seek out help and advice themselves.
“This is aimed at people who need ongoing medical support for things like diabetes or heart disease. There will be a primary health care nurse, a dietician and a behavioral health clinician who is like a counsellor,” said Choose Lake Cowichan’s secretary Marg Davis.
“They’ll identify barriers that aren’t letting people meet their health care goals and help provide solutions.”
If you can’t make it to the fair to meet the team, persons interested in more information about the primary health care services can drop by the Kaatza Health Centre at 58 Cowichan Avenue West in Lake Cowichan or call 250-749-6878.
Thanks in part to the hard work of Choose Cowichan Lake, the health care front for the town has undergone a major turnaround.
We have two doctors, a walk-in clinic, a nurse practitioner and the Primary Health Care team already in place, with two more doctors on the horizon. We also have a wide variety of practitioners and services available.
And that is where the Health Fair comes in.
“Let’s say your doctor has told you that you need to lose weight and get some exercise, or maybe that some kind of physiotherapy might benefit you? Professionals of all kinds will be at the health fair to showcase what’s available,” said Day. “Instead of just taking prescriptions, you the patient can take steps to improve your condition.”
The fair takes a holistic view of the myriad of things that can affect health and well-being. Topics as varied as water quality, recreational activities, spiritual and mental well-being, sports, environment and social outlets all play a role in good health. All will be represented at the fair.
“Of course, community services will be there. It should be fantastic and will give people such a great opportunity to see what’s available,” said Cowichan Lake Community Service’s Carol Blatchford. “We’re really hoping people will take advantage of this. It’s going to be awesome!”
The Cowichan Lake Community Health and Wellness Fair takes place Saturday, Mar. 1, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Centennial Hall. Admission is free and there will be door prizes, entertainment and a concession.