Health unit still there to help for parents
By Cecilia Nasmith
With all the new concerns we are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic, life goes on and we still have the everyday issues surrounding pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting.
The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit is still there with help close to home for these special services, as set out in a recent press release. The offices may be closed, but services and support are still available via phone and on-line.
Services still available include:
The toll-free Healthy Families Intake Line at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5004 allows people to speak with a Public Health Nurse for support and answers on issues surrounding pregnancy, breastfeeding and parenting. Public Health Nurses are also available via videoconferencing to offer infant-feeding support.
The free on-line Prenatal Program that gives expectant parents accurate and reliable information and resources on pregnancy, labour and caring for a newborn. The web-based mobile-friendly format can be accessed from home.
The Healthy Families Facebook page offers on on-line forum for parents and caregivers and health unit staff to exchange information, comments and resources on parenting and family issues.
The health unit website features general health advice (as well as specific information) on keeping your family safe during the pandemic, preventing injuries during COVID-19 and ways to remain active during the current emergency.
Healthy Babies Healthy Children is a free, confidential and voluntary program for eligible pregnant women, new mothers and families with children up to age six. It provides advice and support immediately after a baby's birth and at different stages thereafter to ensure children get the best start in life. Though the home visits are not currently available, follow-ups with families can be done by phone and videoconferencing.
Our concept of normal life has turned upside-down over the last few months. Parents may face extra pressure with children home from school and daycare, with on-going worries about income because of job disruptions, stress over returning to work as businesses reopen, difficulties responding to a child's questions or concern over the coronavirus. For those going through a pregnancy, there may also be questions and concerns about accessing medical care during a pandemic.
“Life as we know it has changed dramatically over the past two months due to COVID-19, but the health unit is still here to support local families,” says Jennifer Kurpjuweit, a Public Health Nurse Jennifer Kurpjuweit said in the press release.
“Whatever your care, concern or question, we encourage you to reach out to the health unit and talk to our staff about how we can help.”
