Public Health in Ontario
What are Public Health Units?
Did you know that:
- the average lifespan of Canadians has increased by more than 30 years since the early 1900s – 25 of those years are attributable to advances in public health
- there is a growing awareness that many illnesses can be prevented if people take better care of their health
A public health unit is an official health agency established by a group of urban and rural municipalities to provide health promoting services at the community-level, carried out by full-time, specially qualified staff. There are 36 public health units in Ontario – from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie and Toronto to Waterloo-Wellington.
Public health units are the front line in the fight to prevent disease and promote better health. They provide programs to inform and educate Ontarians in the communities they serve.
Where to find your local Public Health Unit
To learn more about the public health programs and services being offered in your community contact your local public health unit.
