Health System Updates — Week ending Dec 13
New CancerCare Campaign: #MakeYourNextOneNonAlcoholic
CancerCare Manitoba launched a new campaign this week: Make Your Next One Non-Alcoholic. Research has shown up to 40% of cancers can be prevented and going alcohol-free helps.
The campaign recommends eliminating alcohol as the best way to reduce risk, while also stating that reducing your intake to 1 – 2 drinks per week can help lower the chances of developing cancer. If all Manitobans stopped drinking alcohol today, more than 100 cancer cases per year could be prevented.
“We know that alcohol has downsides,” explained Dr. Pam Hebbard, Surgical Oncologist, CancerCare Manitoba. “And those downsides can be significant, including lots of health effects. On the cancer side, it increases your risk of a variety of cancers. Many people might know that it’s linked to liver problems and liver cancer, but it’s also linked to things like an increase in breast cancer, stomach cancer, cancers of the head, neck and pancreatic cancer, all of which can be very difficult cancers to treat. So, drinking less is part of our strategy not to treat cancer, but hopefully to prevent it.”
The campaign links to resources including the benefits of avoiding alcohol and tips to help avoid or reduce drinking alcohol.
Manitoba continues to see high levels of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD)
BY THE NUMBERS: As of December 6, 2024, a total of 30 confirmed cases of IMD have been reported in Manitoba since December 1, 2023. Typically, about six cases are reported annually.
WHO’S AFFECTED: Nearly all confirmed cases were caused by serogroup W (28 confirmed) and are primarily affecting children less than 4 years of age and adults aged 30 – 55 years.
CONTEXT: Earlier this year, Manitoba Health updated its recommended meningococcal vaccine for infants at 12 months of age from the Men-C‑C vaccine to Men-C-ACYW vaccine and introduced a catch-up program for children born between January 1, 2020, and February 28, 2023. A reminder letter was sent in June to those who had not yet received their dose of the Men-C-ACYW vaccine. However, uptake of the vaccine among some of the targeted cohorts has remained low.
TAKE ACTION: Providers are asked to prioritize and promote this vaccine/catchup program. Read the full memo here.
Supports for Older Adults Experiencing Abuse
A & O Support Services for Older Adults provides support to older adults (55+) experiencing abuse, through the delivery of counselling services, and access to the safe suite program should they need to leave situations of abuse. For more information, to request brochures, or educational presentations please call 204−956−6440 or toll-free at 1−888−333−3121.
Learn more at aosupportservices.ca