Download the 2018 Community Report (PDF, 32 Pages, 6.6 MB)
Message from Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health & CEO
Change and Consistency
It is a time of change for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) Public Health. Again. 2018 brought changes to the Public Health Standards from the province that outlined the key priorities and activities of public health units. WDG Public Health staff have worked hard to implement the new Standards throughout our Agency. This work ensures the effective delivery of programs that positively impact the health and well-being of everyone in Wellington County, Dufferin County and the City of Guelph.
With even more changes announced by the Province recently, including the creation of 10 regional public health agencies to provide public health services rather than the existing 35 local health units, there is more change on the horizon.
WDG Public Health is no stranger to change and is ready to build a strong public health system within an integrated health system while maintaining a commitment to provide the local services needed.
Public health services are very broad and reach almost every aspect of daily life. Some of the services which are critical to community health and safety include: safe water, food safety, dental services, family health, vaccinations, disease protection and promoting healthy lifestyle choices.
These services help keep communities healthy and reduce the burden on local hospitals and physicians. At the same time, WDG Public Health works with community partners to support responding to crises such as the epidemic of opioid use or controlling a potential measles or mumps outbreak in local schools.
Public health services will continue to be needed and provided in local communities both during and after any organization changes that occur within the public health sector of the healthcare system. Our structure may be changing but our commitment to the work of public health is not.
All of us at WDG Public Health are committed to helping you, your family and your community stay well. Please feel free to browse through our 2018 Community Report and see the work we have been doing and will continue to do for years to come.
