Huron Perth Public Health releases 2024 annual report

Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) has released its 2024 annual report, offering a detailed overview of the programs and services delivered across the region, with a stronger emphasis on immunization efforts compared to the previous year’s post-pandemic focus.

This year’s report outlines HPPH’s ongoing vision to optimize health and well-being by taking action to protect and promote population health, prevent disease and enhance the quality of life for residents.

“The HPPH 2024 Annual Report includes updates on core public health programs and services likely familiar to our community, such as infectious disease control, immunizations, and Healthy Babies Healthy Children,” said Dr. Miriam Klassen, medical officer of health.

“Our report also describes several new initiatives that leverage technology, partnerships and the latest evidence to achieve public health goals. These include leading the infection prevention and control (IPAC) hub to support congregate settings, widely sharing our social connection primer and launching a new opioid monitoring tool.”

As mandated under the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act, HPPH followed up on suspected and confirmed outbreaks of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses in long-term care and retirement homes.

In 2024, 73 outbreaks were declared in these facilities. Of these, 104 were confirmed cases of influenza. There were 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which resulted in 14 deaths between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.

HPPH provided 102 in-school immunization clinics across Huron-Perth for routine Grade 7 and Grade 10 vaccines, resulting in 3,640 total immunizations. In response to vaccine access gaps, two COVID-19 clinics were held in St. Marys, identified as an underserved area.

On the environmental health front, HPPH expanded its “Check What We Inspect” disclosure website. In 2024, institutional food service kitchens were added, allowing the public to view inspection results for hospitals, childcare centres, long-term care homes and retirement homes.

Looking ahead, HPPH plans to include inspection results for personal service settings (hair salons, aesthetics, tattoo studios) and recreational water facilities (pools, spas, splash pads, wading pools) on the site in 2025.

Health promotion efforts this year focused on healthy eating, alcohol and substance use, reproductive health and enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Of the 163 total complaints under the act, roughly 81 per cent came from schools, primarily due to student vaping infractions.

The report also highlights HPPH’s commitment to equity, anti-racism, diversity and inclusion. The Health Equity Team developed the HPPH Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lens to help staff embed these principles into programs and services throughout the region.

In 2024, the Healthy Smiles Ontario program reached 7,400 children in junior kindergarten, senior kindergarten, and Grades 2, 4 and 7 across the region.

The Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, including its Anabaptist Community Work initiative, expanded to two sites in Huron County.

The report also touches on improvements in communication, website development, surveillance, health assessment and research.

For more information or to read the full report, visit www.hpph.ca.