Drug Shortages: What do I need to know?

A Question & Answer document produced by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health regarding the current Sandoz national drug shortage

Saskatchewan Community Fluoride Data 2010
Compiled by: Dental Health Promotion Working Group of Saskatchewan
March 2010  

The Good Food Box -Nutritous Convenient Fresh Economical

 The Good Food Box is a buying group that makes it easier and more affordable for consumers to purchase fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grain products.  On a monthly basis, members place their order and make their payment so the coordinator knows exactly how much food to purchase.  On the scheduled packing day, members pick up their Good Food Box from a designated location.  Participation in the Good Food Box group is open to everyone.  A regular newsletter containing nutrition information, cooking tips and recipes is included in each box.  The Good Food Box is member driven.  New members pay a one-time membership fee of $7.50 which entitles members to play orders for Good Food Boxes anywhere in the region.      For more information, view the Good Food Box brochure here. The Good Food Box is a Tisdale & Area Community Action Cooperative Ltd. Program.  Funding provided through a grant from the Ministry of Social Services.


The new face of stroke in Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Each year more than 2,200 people experience a stroke in our province. Only one in ten will recover completely and three-quarters will be left with some form of disability. Unfortunately, the devastating impact of stroke is still not widely understood in Saskatchewan, nor is the fact that it can strike anyone at any age.
 
“I am the new face of stroke, not the picture of the stroke patient you may have in your mind,” shares Lee Cayer of Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan. “I’m a survivor but I might not be here to tell my story had my family not recognized my symptoms as a stroke and called 9-1-1 immediately. The administration of a clot-busting drug at Moose Jaw’s Union Hospital gave me back my life.” Lee is an active 46-year-old horse woman and ranch owner whose stroke in 2009 and subsequent recovery has inspired her to share her story in hopes of saving other lives.
 
New stroke treatments mean there are more success stories like Lee’s; still, however too many stories don’t end as well. The Heart and Stroke Foundation, along with Lee and her family, encourages everyone to learn the warning signs of a stroke and to call 9-1-1 immediately if any of the signs appear: The signs are: Sudden Weakness, Sudden Trouble Speaking, Sudden Vision Problems, Sudden Headache and Sudden Dizziness. Lee is also committed to preventing another stroke and encourages other women to be aware of their risk factors as well.  Learn more about stroke prevention and the signs of stroke at www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke
 
“Heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death in women in Canada, killing more women than men,” says Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Director of Stroke Strategy Gwen Gordon. “The real tragedy is that 90 per cent of strokes are preventable, whether you are a man or a woman.” A 2011 Heart and Stroke Foundation poll of Canadian women that determined than fewer than one in four of all women could not even name one risk factor for stroke. And only 28 per cent recognized high blood pressure as a risk factor, when in fact it is the number one risk factor for stroke.  The site also includes Smartphone apps that help Canadians manage their blood pressure, risk factors and to shop and eat healthier.
 
Working with the Government of Saskatchewan and various health regions, the Foundation is dedicated to having the Saskatchewan Integrated Stroke Strategy implemented across the province. The Strategy will prevent many strokes and give hope for a fuller recovery and better quality of life for people experiencing stroke, no matter where they live in Saskatchewan. The strategy puts protocols in place for stroke prevention clinics, emergency transport and treatment and recovery programs.

 

 

 

 

Watch the video of the real-life story of stroke survivor Lee Cayer, telling the story that stroke can be beaten.