T. ModestoPhD
In Memoriam
Summit to Help Faith Groups Respond to Pandemic - Winnipeg Canada
June 20-21 event at Winnipeg's Canadian Mennonite University co-sponsored by International Centre For Infectious Diseases
WINNIPEG, Man. -- Are Canadian faith groups ready for the flu pandemic?
They had better be--many health care experts, such as the World Health Organization, say that a flu pandemic is inevitable. Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease consultant at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, says ?there will be another pandemic . . . it?s 100 per cent sure.?
Tim Foggin is a family physician from Burnaby, B.C. and moderator of an e-mail group called Church Emergency Preparedness, which is dedicated to helping churches prepare for a pandemic. ?A flu pandemic is inevitable," he says, adding that there's a good chance it could happen in the next five to ten years.
The last time such a severe flu pandemic hit Canada was in 1918, killing 50,000 Canadians. When it hits again, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates it will kill between 11,000 to 58,000 Canadians and that 2.1 million to five million would get sick.
Various levels of government, the health care system and the business community are already making plans for the pandemic, as have a few faith groups. But now all faith groups across Canada can help their congregations prepare for a pandemic at the June 20-21 Faith Community Summit on Pandemic Preparedness and Response at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg.
The Summit, which is sponsored by the International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID) and CMU, is for leaders from national and regional faith groups and faith-based organizations, members of interfaith councils, and people of faith in the health care field. The goal of the Summit is to help faith leaders make sure their groups are integrated into official pandemic response structures; explore ways to serve members and neighbours affected by the outbreak; and find ways to work together to create proactive, responsible and meaningful pandemic strategies.
The keynote address will be given by Lt. Colonel Irene Stickland of the Salvation Army. Stickland served as Deputy CEO of the Scarborough Grace Hospital during the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Toronto.
Also speaking will be Dr. Tracy Parnell of British Colombia Ministry of Health, who has served on the Pandemic Influenza Committee of the Public Health Agency of Canada; John Webb, Nova Scotia Emergency Social Services; Jim Ferguson, Director of the Salvation Army?s Disaster Emergency Services; Dr. Tim Foggin, Burnaby B.C.; Rev. Therese Modesto, PhD, who specializes in critical incident and mass fatality occurrences during epidemics and pandemics; and the Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon, Anglican Church of Canada and chair of a bishop?s working group to create a Pandemic Response Plan for the Diocese of Toronto.
Topics that will be addressed at the Summit include Responding Faithfully: Spiritual Care in Times of Pandemic; Canada's Pandemic Influenza Plan; Understanding Pandemic--Debunking Myths, and Answering Your Questions; Communicating Pandemic Preparedness to Faith Communities; Faith Responses on the Ground: Needs Assessment and Planning Tools.
The cost of the Summit is $159 per person ($212. after June 1). For more information, or to register, go to www.icid.com/faith or e-mail info@icid.com
June 20-21 event at Winnipeg's Canadian Mennonite University co-sponsored by International Centre For Infectious Diseases
WINNIPEG, Man. -- Are Canadian faith groups ready for the flu pandemic?
They had better be--many health care experts, such as the World Health Organization, say that a flu pandemic is inevitable. Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease consultant at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, says ?there will be another pandemic . . . it?s 100 per cent sure.?
Tim Foggin is a family physician from Burnaby, B.C. and moderator of an e-mail group called Church Emergency Preparedness, which is dedicated to helping churches prepare for a pandemic. ?A flu pandemic is inevitable," he says, adding that there's a good chance it could happen in the next five to ten years.
The last time such a severe flu pandemic hit Canada was in 1918, killing 50,000 Canadians. When it hits again, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates it will kill between 11,000 to 58,000 Canadians and that 2.1 million to five million would get sick.
Various levels of government, the health care system and the business community are already making plans for the pandemic, as have a few faith groups. But now all faith groups across Canada can help their congregations prepare for a pandemic at the June 20-21 Faith Community Summit on Pandemic Preparedness and Response at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg.
The Summit, which is sponsored by the International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID) and CMU, is for leaders from national and regional faith groups and faith-based organizations, members of interfaith councils, and people of faith in the health care field. The goal of the Summit is to help faith leaders make sure their groups are integrated into official pandemic response structures; explore ways to serve members and neighbours affected by the outbreak; and find ways to work together to create proactive, responsible and meaningful pandemic strategies.
The keynote address will be given by Lt. Colonel Irene Stickland of the Salvation Army. Stickland served as Deputy CEO of the Scarborough Grace Hospital during the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Toronto.
Also speaking will be Dr. Tracy Parnell of British Colombia Ministry of Health, who has served on the Pandemic Influenza Committee of the Public Health Agency of Canada; John Webb, Nova Scotia Emergency Social Services; Jim Ferguson, Director of the Salvation Army?s Disaster Emergency Services; Dr. Tim Foggin, Burnaby B.C.; Rev. Therese Modesto, PhD, who specializes in critical incident and mass fatality occurrences during epidemics and pandemics; and the Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon, Anglican Church of Canada and chair of a bishop?s working group to create a Pandemic Response Plan for the Diocese of Toronto.
Topics that will be addressed at the Summit include Responding Faithfully: Spiritual Care in Times of Pandemic; Canada's Pandemic Influenza Plan; Understanding Pandemic--Debunking Myths, and Answering Your Questions; Communicating Pandemic Preparedness to Faith Communities; Faith Responses on the Ground: Needs Assessment and Planning Tools.
The cost of the Summit is $159 per person ($212. after June 1). For more information, or to register, go to www.icid.com/faith or e-mail info@icid.com