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Source: http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/446944
Spiritual support part of pandemic plan
November 20, 2008
Johanna Weidner
RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
Preparing for a pandemic goes far beyond providing health care and minimizing the spread, public health officials say.
Reaching out and supporting people through the tough time is also crucial to keep the community going in the grip of a global influenza outbreak.
Regional planners met yesterday with members of the faith community and social services workers to discuss the need to keep support available when people need them most.
"At the heart of it, we are human beings. We need contact," said Dr. Liana Nolan, regional medical officer of health.
Spiritual and psychosocial services are part of the pandemic plan for Waterloo Region, now more than two years in the making. A version is expected to be completed next month.
"Certainly, the health-care piece is front and centre," Nolan said. But, she added, "we're not just isolating people who have an illness."
In calling the meeting yesterday, the region said experts around the world have warned of the enormous risks to public health if a new human influenza virus emerges.
The meeting was a chance for clergy to start thinking about how they will cope with illness, death, fear and other stresses that come with a pandemic.
"We're going to have to be very imaginative," said Rev. Canon Christopher Pratt, who was there to address the group.
Usually, churches bring people together to provide support and care. During a pandemic, gatherings are not wise because of the risk of passing along the virus. Pratt said faith groups will have to maintain connections in other ways, such as by telephone or internet.
The faith community needs to be prepared to help people through the crisis, he said. And, until now, little planning has been done.
Beyond spiritual guidance, the region's plan considers maintaining all community supports, including children's care, food and animal care as well as mental health services.
"It's crucial because when you have such a large event that affects everyone in the community, they need support," said Mike Schuster, regional commissioner of social services. People need to know how to connect, what to do, who to call. A phone line will be set up by the Red Cross to do just that.
Although many people can depend on help from friends and family, "there are a lot of vulnerable people out there that don't have connections in the community," Schuster said.
Another key part of the plan is dealing with volunteers, he said.
"We're going to have to recruit a whole bunch of people to help us out."
Luckily, lots of people will step forward to volunteer, too, which means preparations are needed to connect them with organizations that need help.
The plan is to use existing volunteer referral agencies and have the cities recruit volunteers.
The tricky part in dealing with a pandemic, Nolan said, will be finding a balance between managing the illness and keeping up with daily life.
"We need to continue to carry on."
jweidner@therecord.com
Spiritual support part of pandemic plan
November 20, 2008
Johanna Weidner
RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
Preparing for a pandemic goes far beyond providing health care and minimizing the spread, public health officials say.
Reaching out and supporting people through the tough time is also crucial to keep the community going in the grip of a global influenza outbreak.
Regional planners met yesterday with members of the faith community and social services workers to discuss the need to keep support available when people need them most.
"At the heart of it, we are human beings. We need contact," said Dr. Liana Nolan, regional medical officer of health.
Spiritual and psychosocial services are part of the pandemic plan for Waterloo Region, now more than two years in the making. A version is expected to be completed next month.
"Certainly, the health-care piece is front and centre," Nolan said. But, she added, "we're not just isolating people who have an illness."
In calling the meeting yesterday, the region said experts around the world have warned of the enormous risks to public health if a new human influenza virus emerges.
The meeting was a chance for clergy to start thinking about how they will cope with illness, death, fear and other stresses that come with a pandemic.
"We're going to have to be very imaginative," said Rev. Canon Christopher Pratt, who was there to address the group.
Usually, churches bring people together to provide support and care. During a pandemic, gatherings are not wise because of the risk of passing along the virus. Pratt said faith groups will have to maintain connections in other ways, such as by telephone or internet.
The faith community needs to be prepared to help people through the crisis, he said. And, until now, little planning has been done.
Beyond spiritual guidance, the region's plan considers maintaining all community supports, including children's care, food and animal care as well as mental health services.
"It's crucial because when you have such a large event that affects everyone in the community, they need support," said Mike Schuster, regional commissioner of social services. People need to know how to connect, what to do, who to call. A phone line will be set up by the Red Cross to do just that.
Although many people can depend on help from friends and family, "there are a lot of vulnerable people out there that don't have connections in the community," Schuster said.
Another key part of the plan is dealing with volunteers, he said.
"We're going to have to recruit a whole bunch of people to help us out."
Luckily, lots of people will step forward to volunteer, too, which means preparations are needed to connect them with organizations that need help.
The plan is to use existing volunteer referral agencies and have the cities recruit volunteers.
The tricky part in dealing with a pandemic, Nolan said, will be finding a balance between managing the illness and keeping up with daily life.
"We need to continue to carry on."
jweidner@therecord.com