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HealthHealth@232 a new clinic targeted to youthsBy Angela Blackburnfront-and-centre during budgetOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFdebate despite a desire around theregional council table to flatlinehe most important part of Haltons 2010 budget. Regionalbattling any problem iscouncillors supported the clinic.Ttaking the first step.It now offers sexual health ser-Halton Region Health Departmentvices, by appointment and drop-in,hopes good things will come fromas well as needle exchange services. residents taking a step across theIt also hosts a Stop Smokingthreshold of Health @232.Clinic and an oral health assessmentSince the new Oakville publicclinic both by appointment.health clinics soft opening in lateWhile it may be dispensing con-2010, early numbers show it is alreadydoms, needles, nicotine patches orwell used.birth control at low or no cost, it isAn official opening took placealso assessing those who qualify for aTuesday to let people know its inreferral for dental work elsewhere,town.and it is connecting to people whoLocated at 232 South Service Rd.feel they have no where else to turnE., Unit B as its name suggests and offering them help.its expected it will be among theThat is the mission of publichighest frequented clinics in Halton,health prevention and early inter-according to Halton Medical Officervention, said Nosal.of Health Dr. Bob Nosal.By making the connection, forTo the Oakville councillors andwhatever reason, it is earning theERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVERresidents who pushed for this, thanktrust of vulnerable individuals and you, said Nosal at the ribbon cuttingmaking assistance available.MAKING THE CONNECTIONS: At the official grand opening of the new public health clinic in Oakville,ceremony.According to former IRHS stu-Health@232, are, from left, Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Regional Medical Officer of Health, Regional Councillor and Health andThe half-million-dollar clinic thatdent Bianca Nagy, the need for sexu-Social Services Committee Chair Clark Somerville, Regional Chair Gary Carr, Regional Councillor Cathy Duddeck,, Biancaspecializes in sexual health and catersal health information is high among Nagy, member of the project's youth steering committee, Regional Councillor Jeff Knoll and Mayor Rob Burton.to teens and young adults has beenOakvilles youths.on the radar since 2007 when aThat was the finding of the high name, interior dr and more.8, 9 and 10 students about drugs, alcohol and relationships.group of Iroquois Ridge High Schoolschools Student Awareness ActionTo appeal to an audience, you must connect with thatTeachers would leave the room for the presentation andstudents brought the need for theTeam (SWAT) that included Nagy,audience and the new clinic, which is primarily a sexualthe SWAT students soon discovered a wealth of students hadsame to the attention of HaltonKrista Lewis, Kayla Bulotivich andhealth clinic expects its clients to be teens aged 16 to 19 andquestions or needed help.Region.Lindsay Boyce.young adults aged 20 to 25.Nagy, now 20 and in her third year at the University of However, it didnt open until lateThat group was formed to provideIn its first few months, Health@232 has had 330 clientsToronto, has been volunteering five years to see the clinic2010 nearly a year after Oakvillerole models to fellow students and itscome through the door.become a reality.Regional Councillor Jeff Knoll put itmembers used to speak with Grade 7,For the last decade, Oakville residents had to go toShe said the SWAT students found that there were lots of Burlingtons Lakeside Clinic on the Oakville/Burlingtonstudents with questions.border.Nosal said youths like Nagy were involved in the clinicsLogistics became problematic in the last few years, saidNosal.In that time, client numbers at the Lakeside clinic tripledto 3,400 annually.Health Benefits of Nordic Pole Oakville clients dropped to only 25 per cent of the totalWalking This FREE public education and there was a three-week waiting list for services.seminar is presented by Health@232 now offers Oakville residents a central loca-with HalMorning Sickness?ton Healthcare Services tion and a plethora of programs in a quartet of categoriesKlaus Schwanbeck, PhD, Nordixx CanadaBack Pain??T sexual health, needle exchange, smoking cessation androuble Sleeping?Jane Giliauskas& Helen Schelfhaut, Cardiac RehabBreastfeeding Concerns?oral health assessment.Cathy Benbow Plewes, Halton Diabetes Programi?Nosal said only 20 years ago, Haltons sexual health pro-Did You Know ...Thursday, March 31, 2011 Supported by: Chiropractic care has been shown to:grams numbered only two or three.6:30 pm Displays decrease low back pain, sciatica and headaches Today, they include pregnancy testing options, birth con- 7:00 pm Presentation shorten labour times by at least 24%trol counseling and contraceptive prescription, cervical can- reduce chance of back labourOakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Auditorium improve morning sicknesscer screening, sexually-transmitted infection testing and improve sinus congestion327 Reynolds Street, Oakville, L6J 3L7 treatment, and free medication to clients and communityAnd allow you to enjoy your pregnancy and delivery to the fullest!To reserve a seat or for more information: doctors, sexuality and sexual orientation counselling, freeFree parking at 250 Wyecroft Rd., Unit 15, Oakville, ON 905.878.2383 (4379) or condoms and free or low-cost contraceptives.this event healthpromotion@haltonhealthcare.on.ca Its all confidential.Dr. Jenna DavisSimilarly, the smoking cessation programs offer a per-Family Chiropractor/Acupuncturistsonal quit plan, support, guidance and free nicotine replace-yywww.haltonhealthcare.com 905.844.WELL (9355)GEORGETOWN y MILTON y OAKVILLE HOSPITALS See Anonymous page 17 www.acornhealth.ca www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, March 24, 2011 16