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November 2008 Events

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November 24, 2008
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS BC LUNG ASSOCIATION'S QUITNOW AND WIN CONTEST
Minister Polak (centre), Jack Boomer, Director of QuitNow Services (left) and Keith Murray, volunteer director and president of the BC Lung Association, celebrate the launch of the QuitNow and WIN contest on November 24, 2008.

The contest, hosted at www.quitnow.ca, uses the 'buddy system,' in which friends encourage friends to quit smoking and provide support throughout the quitting process. Both participants and their buddies will be entered to win a range of prizes from $500 Future Shop gift certificates to a grand-prize cruise to Alaska and $7,500 in gift certificates for a total value of $10,000.

Winners of the QuitNow & WIN contest will be drawn on or close to February 3, 2009. Contest entrants must be residents of British Columbia, 19 years of age or over, and must remain tobacco-free from January 6, 2009 through and including February 2, 2009.

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November 21, 2008
8-1-1 SERVICE MAKES ACCESSING HEALTH ADVICE EASIER
Healthy Living and Sport Minister Mary Polak, Health Services Minister George Abbott and Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee receive a demonstration of the new 8-1-1 HealthLink BC service, which was launched in Burnaby on November 21, 2008.

8-1-1 allows British Columbians to simply dial 8-1-1 to get 24/7 health information and medical advice. The HealthLink BC service includes a new health system navigation service that is accessible via telephone or the Internet. The navigation system assists the public and health professionals in finding and accessing appropriate health resources in, or close, to their home communities.

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November 4, 2008
BC WOMEN'S HOSPITAL HONOURED WITH BABY-FRIENDLY DESIGNATION
From Left: Jennifer Hill, Patient Validator; Pam O'Sullivan, BC Women's Vice President Acute Perinatal Services; Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport; Frances Jones, BC Women's Lactation Consultant; Marianne Brophy, Co-Chair Breastfeeding For Canada; and BC Women's President Liz Whynot.

On November 4, 2008, Minister Polak joined health professionals and staff at BC Women's Hospital to celebrate the hospital's Baby-Friendly designation. BC Women's became the eighth hospital in Canada to receive the international honour that is given to hospitals that promote and comply with breastfeeding standards for mothers with newborns.

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November 3, 2008
MINISTER POLAK LAUNCHES INFLUENZA CAMPAIGN
Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, receives a flu shot at the launch of the annual influenza campaign on November 3, 2008 at the B.C. Legislature. Influenza, often called the flu, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by an influenza virus. A person with influenza is also at risk of other infections, such as viral or bacterial pneumonia, an infection of the lungs. In Canada, it is estimated up to 7,000 people die from influenza and its complications every year.

Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, receives a flu shot at the launch of the annual influenza campaign on November 3, 2008 at the B.C. Legislature.

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