Health Committee Chair – Vicky Kotab of BPW Sudbury

Vicky is also our representative to the BPWI Health Standing Committee. She is the Clinical Assistant/Public Relations at the Women's Centre for Well-being in Sudbury, Ontario.

"As the North American Wellness Expert for BPWI, I  am driven to supporting and educating professional women on their holistic wellness journey of striving to achieve a higher level of optimal wellness. I am committed to developing programs and teaching women natural ways to improve their state of health and well-being so that they can make life long lifestyle changes for the better."

Click here to read the BPWI Health Committee Action Plan 2008-11 (pdf)

Our BPW Canada Health Committee was formed in 2002 because of our International Federation's affiliation with the World Health Organization (WHO). Our consultative status with WHO mandates BPW International as well as BPW Canada and other members to conduct research and develop position statements on health issues that affect working women, and specifically as it relates to their ability to access education and employment.

A key issue for the Health Committee is violence against women and the impact of violence on women in the workplace. BPW Canada has developed a Position Statement on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (see below), and we intend to continue to address this very important issue. We encourage BPW members to let us know of their issues and concerns. Here are some resources that may help clubs in their work on these issues:

• BPW Canada Position Statement: Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (pdf)
  
• BPW Canada Position Statement: The Emerging Crystal Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) Epidemic in Canada, 2006 (pdf)
  
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Passed 2005 BPWI Congress, Lucerne, Switzerland (pdf)
  
• BPW Canada Health Committee Report: By Elaine Elliott and Darlene Cleven, 2005-06 (pdf)

Once resolutions are passed or position statements developed, BPW Canada communicates with the appropriate federal ministry to share our information and make our concerns known. 

Current Health Issues - Research & General Information

• Stress reduction in the Workplace. By Vicky Kotab. Vicky provides a few natural stress reduction techniques you can use to give yourself a mini-break throughout your work day.  (pdf)
• AIDS leading cause of death globally in women of reproductive age
  In a landmark report on the health of women and girls across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that AIDS-related illness is the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age in low and middle income countries, particularly in Africa. Also, globally, unsafe sex is the single leading risk factor contributing to deaths among women of reproductive age. These findings support the contention in Women and Health: Today’s Evidence, Tomorrow’s Agenda that in a multiplicity of areas female health is neglected and must now be considered an urgent priority. Click here to download the report.
• BPW International is supporting Global Consortium of Women to End Cervical Cancer.  After our Congress in Mexico City, many of our members already start signing this petition to support Global Consortium of Women to End Cervical Cancer.  If you have not done so, kindly click here and sign your name too. 
• Economic Impact of Children in Care with FASD: Phase I, Cost of Children in Care with FASD in Manitoba. Prepared by Don Fuchs, University of Manitoba et al, August 2008 (pdf)
• Time to Bridge the Gender Gap on Heart Attacks
  New research shows that, compared to a man, a woman's risk of dying following a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke is higher, women are less likely to be treated by a specialist, are less likely to be transferred to another facility for treatment, and less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization or revasculation. "There has been some progress in closing the gender gap," says Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, "but when it comes to Canada's leading cause of death, there are women who may be under-served on the front lines compared to men." For the full story, Click Here.

Who Cares and How Much? The Imputed Economic Contribution to the Canadian Healthcare System of Middle-Aged and Older Unpaid Caregivers Providing Care to The Elderly

• In this study, published by The Journal of Healthcare Quarterly (Vol. 12 No. 2 2009), a conservative estimate of the contribution made by unpaid caregivers in 2009 was found to be $25 billion.  The lead authors of the study were Dr. Marcus Hollander, a health policy researcher and Neena Chappel of the University of Victoria.

For BPW Canada’s policy, see Index of Resolution
For recent submissions to government, see Briefs