Chronic Illness Management in British Columbia

This article discusses chronic illness management in British Columbia, Canada. It highlights the healthy food policies and initiatives taken by the government to promote healthy eating. The article also explores the strategies for increasing food security in the province.

Running head: CHRONIC ILLNESS MANAGEMENT
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Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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Chronic illness management
British Columbia
British Columbia has been found to be the healthiest province of Canada. According to
statistics it has reported lowest rates of cancer, nervous system, lung disease, heart disease and
has by far the lowest rate of diabetes. Intact B.C has scored an A for better life expectancy,
premature mortality and self-reported health. The smoking rates of British Columbia is as low as
15.8 % and has by far been recorded as the lowest as compared to the other province of Canada
(British Columbia Healthy Eating Population Health Survey, 2013). The rates of the physical
activity are higher and the consumption of the fruits and vegetables especially the super foods
are higher. Consumption of the organic food has found to be much higher. The province abounds
in fruits, vegetables, nuts and fishes that not only covers the domestic market but are also been
exported to global markets. As per the British Columbia healthy eating survey, (36.7 %) of the
B.C population have reported that they consume fruits and vegetables for five times daily. This
health indicator is a sensible substitution for good health. Females (44.8%) are more likely to
consume fruits and vegetables than the males (British Columbia Healthy Eating Population
Health Survey, 2013).
The local production of the food in B.C has helped to reduce the environmental and the
carbon footprint, promoting economic feasibility of cultivation and food division. The British
Columbia Agricultural plan -Growing a Healthy Future for B.C. Families has outlined 23
strategies for causing a diversification of the food industry. Food policies has been introduced at
all levels of the government to promote healthy eating. For example the Kamloops food policy

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council has developed Kamloops Social plan that has helped in the expansion of the community
garden program with a funding of $30,000 (Dietitians of Canada, 2010). The community Food
action initiative (CFAI) is a health promoting initiative that has been taken for increasing the
food security for the British Columbians with low socio economic status. It included the farmer's
market the community gardens, development of the local food charters. Urban food production
in B.C is also another reason for increasing the food security in British Columbia. Municipal
policies included urban food production. Urban food production can take place in many forms
like the backward community, schools, restaurant kitchen and the rooftop gardens. Common
form of the urban agriculture taken up in Vancouver, BC are the community allotment gardens,
urban farms, edible permaculture gardens (Vancouver Island, community research alliance,
2011). District Wide Farm to School Program has been a successful initiative for the local food
resources by collaborating with the farmers. This was established with the aim to increase the
access to locally grown, nutritious safe food (Dietitians of Canada, 2010). BC School Fruit &
Vegetable Nutritional Program, is funded by the Province of British Columbia and Provincial
Health Services Authority., by partnering with the local growers to supply fresh fruits and
vegetables across the province of British Columbia. Furthermore, organizations like B.C
Association of farmer’s markets thrive to support the local growers for better local food
production. Schemes such as vendor’s Insurance program has been designed for the vendors to
grow their business and strengthen the farmer’s market (B.C Association of farmer’s markets,
2012). B.C is a home to a range of diversified growing conditions, resulting in crops being
produced at different times of the year. The produces are also stored in cols storages for
maintaining their freshness. All these findings provides the rationale to choose B.C as the most
suitable place to reside in Canada.

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References
B.C Association of farmer’s markets, (2012). Vendor’s insurance program. Access date:
26.7.2018. Retrieved from : https://www.bcaitc.ca/bc-school-fruit-vegetable-nutritional-
program
British Columbia Healthy Eating Population Health Survey, (2013): Technical report. Access
date: 26.7.2018. Retrieved from
http://www.phsa.ca/documents/bchealthyeatingpopulationhealthsurvey2013technical.pdf
Dietitians of Canada, (2010). HEALTHY EATING AND FOOD SECURITY: Promising
Strategies for BC. Access date: 26.7.2018 .Retrieved from:
https://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Public/Healthy-Eating-and-Food-Security-
Strategies-BC.aspx
Vancouver Island, community research alliance, (2011). STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING
FOOD SECURITY ON VANCOUVER ISLAN. Access date: 26.7.2018. Retrieved from :
https://www.uvic.ca/assets/media-releases/VICRA-summary-report.pdf.