Taking Your Health & Lifestyle Seriously
By Kellie Underhill

These days you would have to live in total isolation in order not to know about the devastating toll smoking takes on your health. In fact, statistics show smoking causes 21% of all preventable cancers. But here's a statistic you probably haven't heard - 20% of all preventable cancers are caused by diet.

"With almost all the predominant diseases, nutrition plays a major role," says Jacqueline Forrest, MANGO Program Coordinator. For example, she says Diabetes is at epidemic levels, costing Canada 9 billion dollars a year when the illness is preventable. "Normally, children develop Type I Diabetes, but not Type II. And we're seeing young children developing Type II Diabetes more often due to poor activity, poor nutrition and obesity."

New Brunswick has the highest rate of obesity in Canada. According to the Health Performance Indicators document published by the Department of Health and Wellness last September, we're not living as long as the rest of the country either. A fact they attribute in part to higher than average mortality rates from cancer and coronary heart disease.

"These are the challenges," Jacqueline smiles. "But we're also looking at the positive aspects of the Miramichi. I'm from Miramichi and I know that when people desire something and work together, we really accomplish things if our heart is in it."

In December 2001, Jacqueline made a proposal to the Region 7 Hospital board demonstrating a need for a healthy active living promotion program to help prevent disease.

"I guess what we're doing is trying to find ways to make this region healthy, to offer the services and to encourage the region to be healthy," she says.

Because of a surplus in the hospital, funding was granted and the Miramichi Action for Nutritional Guidance Opportunities program (MANGO) was born in May 2002.

Because the initial funding came from a surplus, additional funding for future years couldn't be guaranteed.

She knew in order for the project to work, communities would have to get involved. The people in each community are the only ones who know best what is needed for their particular area.

"I could have gone out and said, 'Okay, this is what we're going to do. We're going to offer classes on how to eat healthy.' Well, if that's not what your community wants, and that's not what's needed, it's not going to be successful," Jacqueline says.

Co-ordinated by Miramichi Regional Health Authority dieticians, MANGO has set up eight Community Nutrition Advisory Groups.

These groups have been established in Baie Ste. Anne, Blackville, Alnwick region, Rogersville, city of Miramichi, Metepenagiag First Nation (Red Bank), Esgenoopitig (Burnt Church), and Eel Ground First Nation.

Each committee consists of volunteers from the respective communities. Their mandate is to communicate, advise and make recommendations in order to establish a community nutrition program that promotes healthy eating and active living.

"We have about 70 volunteers who are dedicated to seeing this happen," Jacqueline says.

The MANGO Project has four objectives. The first objective is to form partnerships in the community with individuals, businesses and organisations.

MANGO has partnered with Miramichi Regional Health Authority staff and physicians; Dr. Susan Sanderson, Pediatric Endocrinologist; Eel Ground School; Eel Ground Health Centre; Metepenagiag (Red Bank) Health Centre; Burnt Church Health Centre; Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative; Alnwick Family Resource Centre; UPM Kymmene; New Brunswick Community College; French Fort Cove Development Commission; Public Health; and local grocery store dieticians.

The second objective is to complete a needs assessment.

They have already conducted surveys and focus groups. About 1300 people responded to the surveys.

"That in itself shows me people are interested, by just responding to a four-page survey," says Jacqueline.

Many concerns have been brought to light through the focus groups and surveys. People are concerned about general healthy eating habits and lack of activity.

"People are saying, 'I don't know what's available out there. I have no idea of the resources that are available to eat well. I have no idea of where to get it and how to find out how to be active and how to involve my family.'" Jacqueline says. "People want to know at the tip of their fingers where they can find an activity. And right now, it's here and there and everywhere, and people don't know where to look. There are a lot of positive things going on in the community that people just don't know about."

Jacqueline says people want to know where they can find out what sorts of healthy activities are happening every day.

"Even in the grocery stores they have healthy eating tours and cooking classes. They have all of those activities and I'm not sure if people even realise," she says. "This is something that is easily fixed. It's something that is needed and the community is saying this is something they want."

The surveys and focus groups also indicated people want increased awareness of healthy eating.

"From the results of the comments, people are saying they want awareness of healthy eating and active living. No matter where you go, where you turn around, they want to see an awareness of healthy eating/ active living,"

"The statistics are there, but the community needs to be aware," she continues. "And just by putting out an article every once and awhile - 'Hey, New Brunswick! You're overweight! You're out of shape!' I mean that's a message, but it's not enough. They need to know, okay yes I am overweight what does that mean to me? What can I do about it? What resources are here in the community?"

The third and fourth objectives are to develop goals and objectives, and then create an action plan.

So far they have collected the data and looked at what is predominant with the demographics for Miramichi. They have reviewed the existing health information, looked at the usage and what's available out there.

It's difficult to predict what sorts of programs and services will come about as a result of the MANGO project because every community's concern is different.

For example, one community's number one concern is poverty and being able to purchase healthy foods.

"That's what they're saying," Jacqueline says. "But do they have a food bank? Do they have those resources? Do they know how to cook on a budget? You can't offer a program until you really find out what their needs are, what most people want, and what we can do about it."

The common issue with all communities seems to be awareness.

"You have to have the awareness before you have the desire to change," Jacqueline says. "99% of the people surveyed said they believed the foods they eat effect their health. So, people know. But they need some quick ideas they can incorporate into their life right now to make them change."

Time is also an issue. People don't have time to prepare meals or to go for a walk.

All these issues and more will be discussed, prioritised and then developed into the Action Plan.

"First we looked at what is needed in the community. Now we need to define it and score it," Jacqueline says. "Then, we have to go back to the community and say, 'This is what this community is telling us they want and this is how we're going to do it. What do you think of that?' We still have to get the broad community to tell us whether what we've narrowed down to is correct or not."

Jacqueline is optimistic that when more Federal funding comes into Miramichi, the MANGO program will be supported. But should no Federal funding appear she's confident Miramichiers will find a way to put the MANGO plan into action.

Kellie Underhill is the editor of Bread 'n Molasses. Her writing credits include The Moncton Times-Transcript, The Brunswick Business Journal, The Atlantic Chamber Journal and The Reader magazine. Send comments about this article to editor@breadnmolasses.com.