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New Mask Mandate for BC Schools

Posted on February 4, 2021

Under the updated health and safety guidelines, non-medical masks are required for all staff in all K to 12 schools and all students in middle and secondary schools in all indoor areas, including when they are in their learning groups. The only exceptions are when:

  • They are sitting or standing at their seat or workstation in a classroom
  • There is a barrier in place
  • They are eating or drinking

Mask exemptions remain in place for students and staff who cannot wear a mask for health or behavioural reasons.

Even when wearing a mask, staff and students will still be required to maintain physical distance from people outside of their learning group.

Elementary school students are not required to wear masks and it remains a family decision.

If a student or staff member develops symptoms while at school, they must wear a mask while they are preparing to go home. Review COVID-19 mask use information from the BCCDC.

Feb. 6, 2020 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

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Treating female genital mutilation costs USD 1.4 billion per year globally: WHO

Female genital mutilation (FGM) exacts a crippling economic as well as human cost, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
“FGM is not only a catastrophic abuse of human rights that significantly harms the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women; it is also a drain on a country’s vital economic resources,” said Dr Ian Askew, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.
“More investment is urgently needed to stop FGM and end the suffering it inflicts.”
New modelling reveals that the total costs of treating the health impacts of FGM would amount to USD 1.4 billion globally per year, if all resulting medical needs were addressed. For individual countries, these costs would near 10% of their entire yearly expenditure on health on average; in some countries, this figure rises to as much as 30%.
The interactive modelling tool that generated these data was launched on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

More information HERE 

Do you know any inspiring people looking to tackle health challenges in their community through great ideas?

Posted on February 1, 2021

The RADIUS Reimagine Health Program is now accepting applications!

Reimagine Health is a six-month cohort-based program that supports community members and leaders to explore health equity issues in their communities and build ideas to prevent chronic diseases. Through Reimagine Health, participants produce new and better initiatives that address the systems that actively influence health disparities with the Health Promotion Lab team and the collective cohort’s support.

In addition to exploring and building innovative ideas, participants will:

  • Build meaningful relationships and a collective network within communities
  • Build on knowledge by learning from others and identify different ways of knowing to tackle preventable health challenges
  • Build confidence, gain leadership skills, and learn impactful ways to communicate your ideas to influence power dynamics 

For more information and to apply go HERE

Everybody Moves, and You’re Invited!

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BC Alliance for Healthy Living (BCAHL) is excited to announce that BCAHL and the Physical Activity for Health Collaborative have launched the much anticipated EverybodyMoves Resource Hub! The Hub is a one-stop shop for sport and recreation leaders who want to ensure physical activity is as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Physical activity is vital for one’s health, and yet we know many British Columbians face visible and invisible barriers to regular activity.

For example, nearly half of adults with disabilities don’t get any aerobic physical activity, and people identifying as lesbian, gay and bisexual of all ages are less likely to participate in sports. The consequences for not being physically active are serious. People who don’t engage in physical activity are more likely to have increased mental and emotional health issues, decreased immune function and inflammation , and are more at risk for developing chronic illnesses.