PORT HOPE, ON (May 30, 2024) –The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) has released their 2023 Annual Report highlighting the progress made last year. The report shares program and service delivery stories and statistics along with a financial overview about the organization’s activities.

As part of the Ontario Public Health Organizations Standards, health units are required to produce an annual financial and performance report to the communities they serve. This public reporting of each health unit’s activities aims to ensure transparency and accountability.

The HKPR 2023 Annual Report focuses on the enthusiasm and passion of employees as they continued to bring back programs and services as work related to the COVID-19 response eased. Throughout 2023 the Health Unit continued to address the risks posed by infectious diseases while fulfilling essential duties prescribed in the Ontario Public Health Standards.

“My gratitude extends to all our employees at the HKPR District Health Unit, from front line workers, managers, and our leadership team for their continued commitment to their work despite adversity,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for the HKPR District Health Unit. “Additionally, I would also like to acknowledge and thank the members of the Board of Health for their continued support and guidance.”

The report provides an overview of key initiatives from 2023. Enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act resumed in fall of 2023 to update the records of over 6,000 students with incomplete immunization records. In addition, dental screening for early signs of tooth decay was completed in schools for over 5,000 students after multiple years of limited screening.

Responding to emerging/re-emerging urgent public health issues was a priority throughout 2023. Negative impacts of the drug poisoning crisis continued to reverberate across our communities and HKPR District Health Unit teams worked to support the re-invigoration of the Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Drug Strategy. The HKLN Drug Strategy brings together institutions and community-based organizations to address the urgent need for data and evidence-informed actions and policy interventions.

The Healthy Families team launched the Nurse Family Partnership program targeting young first-time families facing socio-economic challenges. In addition, the team focused on perinatal mental health interventions to address the post-pandemic mental health challenges facing our communities.

Additional key highlights from the 2023 Annual Report include:

• 3,271 Naloxone kits distributed to partners.
• 2,054 Inspections of food premises.
• 790 Animals received reduced-cost rabies vaccinations.
• 8,141 Student immunization records assessed.
•  53 Public and provincial beaches monitored.
• 1,610 Reports of communicable and infectious diseases reviewed.
•  604 Sexual health clients seen.
• 101,539 Vaccines distributed to partners (not including COVID-19 vaccines).
•  567 Animal bite investigations.
• 1,199 Parents and families supported through Healthy Babies Healthy Children program.

The HKPR District Health Unit’s 2023 Annual Report also mentions the progress made towards the objectives in our 2019-2024 Strategic Plan and achieved in 2023. Accomplishments included the formal launch of a Four Pillar People Strategy, adoption of the LEADS Framework to guide leadership work, the launch of Customer Experience Standards, Indigenous cultural competency training, the establishment of a working group for psychological health and safety and the launch of a refreshed and rebranded website.

To read the complete HKPR 2023 Annual Report please visit our Reports webpage.