Kingsville Times

The  agenda for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Board of Health Meeting is available on the Health Unit website. Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024 Time: 4:00 p.m. Location:      Windsor-Essex County Health Unit 1005 Ouellette Avenue Boardroom 1A Windsor, ON N9A 4J8 The next in-person Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Thursday, […]

New registration and oversight for personal support workers and physician assistants will help build a more connected, patient-centred health care system The Ontario government is improving consistency and patient understanding in the health care system through new changes that will allow personal support workers (PSWs) to register with the new […]

Based on information from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health, has issued an Extended Heat Warning from Monday, June 17 until further notice for Windsor and Essex County. An extended heat warning is issued when three or more consecutive days are forecasted to have […]

Do we enjoy alcoholic drinks? We do! A relaxing drink before dinner with our loved ones is standard practice. We are supported by a landmark study involving 490,000 people involving the American Cancer Society, World Health Organization, and Oxford University that found one alcoholic drink daily decreased the risk of […]

Through several focused strategies and a dedicated team effort, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has improved cancer surgery wait times at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre by 50 per cent over the past year for non-urgent and non-emergent patients. “We know how hard it is for patients with cancer and their families […]

The Erie Shores HealthCare Spiritual Care Committee is extending a heartfelt invitation to the community for a special event to commemorate the lives of young loved ones who passed away during childbirth or shortly after. This touching Butterfly Release Memorial takes place Wednesday, June 12th at 5:30 pm, within the […]

Lao Tsu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” Unfortunately, a lot of people are speeding to the wrong destination, each year putting on extra pounds and becoming more sedentary. But people do have choices. Make a change […]

Are your health care providers trained in integrative medicine? It’s not an area of medical specialization, like gynaecology or gastroenterology. Think of it as a theory of medicine. Doctors practicing integrative medicine respect the roles of prescription drugs and surgery when the situation calls for these treatments. But they also […]

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry students will begin their learning and training with Erie Shores HealthCare during Discovery Week 2024, marking the 26th anniversary of this outstanding partnership. The medical students’ placement stems from an ongoing partnership with Schulich Medicine, based at Western University in London, Ont. For the […]

Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) proudly announces the successful completion of the first MRI test in its new mobile MRI unit. This significant milestone marks a new era in delivering state-of-the-art diagnostic services to residents of Essex County. The mobile MRI unit, a temporary measure until the permanent MRI suite is […]

How many thousands of knee and hip replacements, and how much pain, could be avoided by the right diet? Arthritis has been called the chronic-care challenge of the 21st century. It is no small problem in economic terms either. A few months ago, The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, published startling […]

Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie announced on Thursday, May 16, 2024 that $1,897,600 in additional base funding was earmarked for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit to help to support public health services in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years. “Our government recognizes the importance of resident services delivered by the […]

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, along with community partners Métis Nation of Ontario, Ska:na Family Learning Centre, and Hiatus House, proudly hosted their inaugural Moose Hide Campaign event on May 16, 2024, promoting healing, awareness, and solidarity in the fight against violence towards women and children. The Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous-led […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed to the public on Victoria Day. This year Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 20. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook:  Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Medical Officer of Health, has rescinded a Boil Water Advisory for waterline system consumers serviced by Wheatley Water Distribution System, specifically: 3rd Concession Waterline Association 3rd & 4th Concession Waterline Association KOA Waterline Association Cedar Inn Waterline Association Richardson Sideroad Waterline Association Tecumseh Road Waterline Association Tilbury Townline Waterline […]

Erie Shores HealthCare announced significant enhancements to its Women’s Health department today, including the introduction of a new mammography machine designed to expedite diagnosis and improve patient outcomes in the fight against breast cancer. This machine, a first for the region, is capable of contrast-enhanced imaging. This advanced technology allows […]

Recall Alert: Frito Lay brand SunChips Multigrains Harvest Cheddar Snacks, and Original Munchies Snack Mix recalled due to Salmonella Product SunChips Multigrains Harvest Cheddar Snacks, and Original Munchies Snack Mix Distribution National Issue Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace due to […]

New statistics published by the American Cancer Society should be alarming. The numbers point to an increase in colon malignancy in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Yet, there’s been a decrease in large bowel cancer among those over the age of 65. In people under 50, the rate […]

Reduce your risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses As temperatures start to climb this time of year, the Ontario government is encouraging people across the province to take precautions to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, when enjoying the […]

Emergencies can happen at any time and without warning. Emergency Preparedness Week is May 5th to 11th. This year’s theme is: Be Prepared, Know Your Risks. The Town of Kingsville wants to encourage residents to be ready by understanding the risks in our area, creating a household emergency plan, and building […]

In an effort to combat the rising trend of vaping among youth, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) launched the Break the Vape Challenge (PSA) video contest. This challenge encouraged young people to share their creative ideas for raising awareness about the dangers of vaping. Between February 5 and March […]

It’s a question on the minds of most Americans, and others too. Biden is 81 and Trump 77. Are they sufficiently health of body and mind to be President? Neither candidate has agreed to a comprehensive and transparent assessment of their mental health. But their state of mind is important, […]

London patient was the first in Canada to receive a successful, robotic assisted direct lateral spine surgery  Chronic back pain affects nearly eight million Canadians and is a condition that can become quite debilitating. For Dave Myen, a clinical neuroscience patient at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), chronic back pain […]

Readers often ask me what it takes to reach 100. My answer is always the same. Good genes. Good luck. And a lifetime of good choices about my health. “What about your daily regimen of high dose vitamin C and lysine?” That’s right, I say. It’s my forever formula for […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is investigating a local case of meningitis in a person under 18 years old. The aim of this media release is to assist individuals who may have been exposed to meningitis in recognizing early symptoms and obtaining preventative treatment. The WECHU provides the following […]

Essex-Windsor EMS is encouraging area business owners to become Cardiac Champions by installing Automatic External Defibrillators and training staff in their use, and is also calling on the residents of Windsor and Essex County to help map the public locations of these life-saving devices. “Minutes matter when it comes to […]

Reading a recent tribute to the life of Paul Alexander brought back horrible memories for me. Paul Alexander was only six years of age when he developed polio. The result? He spent the rest of his life enclosed in an iron lung. I too had polio in my final year […]

The top ten videos are now open for public voting The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has worked with a panel of youth judges to complete three rounds of youth voting, narrowing down the almost 100 Break the Vape PSA video submissions. The top five videos in the Grade 6 to 8 […]

Will humans ever learn to care for their kidneys? Or will they live to count mixed blessings – staying alive but reliant on a machine to clean the blood. This, or a kidney transplant, is the result of end-stage kidney failure. Over 40 million North Americans are living with the […]

Starting in May 2024, the Canadian Dental Care Plan will provide some coverage for Canadian residents who do not have access to dental insurance and have a household income of less than $90,000 a year. For an overview of CDCP, visit the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit here. Eligible individuals are required […]

Individuals to start receiving notification letters the week of April 8 The review into affected data from the cyber attack at Bluewater Health, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Windsor Regional Hospital, along with their shared services provider, TransForm Shared Service Organization, is now complete with […]

After 10 books, over 2,500 columns, and nearly 50 years of writing it, some things bear repeating. This week revisits a column from three decades ago about how to prepare for surgery. Has anything changed? From that old column, “What would God do if He were a surgeon? If it […]

The Ford government’s 2024 Ontario budget fails to commit to the province’s public health-care system in a meaningful way and lacks any details on how the health-care funds announced will be used, says the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA). “ONA was crystal clear in our pre-budget submission about what is needed […]

There’s a universal fact for women. If they live long enough, their capacity to bring forth children will end, and they will become menopausal. Menopause can be when the thermostat becomes their most prized possession. But not all women have hot flashes. Some go through this period wondering why they […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed to the public on Good Friday, March 29 and Easter Monday, April 1 on the Easter weekend. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook:  Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

On April 8, 2024, there will be a solar eclipse where the Moon will move between the Sun and the Earth. Several locations throughout Windsor and Essex County fall into the path of totality, where the Sun will be completely covered by the Moon for a short period of time. […]

As school resumes after the March Break and rates of measles continue to grow across the province, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is cautioning residents of this region to be aware of the symptoms of measles and to take measures if you suspect you may be infected. The measles virus is highly […]

A local research team has been leading a made-in-Windsor program to help connect cancer patients with clinical trials nationally. Only seven per cent of Canadians with cancer end up enrolling in a clinical trial, and the rate is lower in small cancer centres that run fewer trials than larger hospitals. […]

It was 200 years ago that Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer and culinary writer, first wrote “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”  It’s a simple and enduring message. But people are not being watchful of what they eat, and it is having […]

A Recall Alert has been issued for K-Fresh brand Enoki Mushroom. This product has been recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled products. If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider Check to see if you […]

Is it time for a Pap test? Come to PAP-a-Palooza! March 23 & 24 Migration Hall 170 Main Street East in Kingsville The Mobile Medical Support team is organizing a Pap test clinic in Kingsville on March 23 & 24 for  cervical screening tests. Are you a woman between the […]

  As of March 14,  102 elementary students are suspended from school for continuing to have incomplete immunization records with the Health Unit, as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990. Parent/guardians must take one or more of the following actions to update their child’s immunization record, […]

At what age should women’s breasts receive radiation to detect breast cancer? In Canada, some provinces are lowering the age of eligibility from 50 to 40, even before a task force releases an update on breast cancer screening guidelines. The current guidelines do not recommend routine screening for women in […]

The College of Nurses of Ontario is marking a significant milestone in health care as we begin to authorize Registered Nurses (RNs) to prescribe medication in Ontario. Under regulations approved by government in November 2023, RNs in the General Class who meet specific requirements gained the authority to prescribe certain medications and […]

Have even one in a thousand North Americans ever heard of Kissick’ s Law?  More than 25 years ago, if you were reading the Ontario Medical Review, you would have seen an article, written by Dr. Samuel Vaisrub, explaining the message. Kissick stated that if the U.S. Declaration of Independence […]

As of March 6, 257 elementary students are suspended from school for continuing to have incomplete immunization records with the Health Unit; as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990. Children remaining on school suspension will have the suspension order lifted once parents/guardians take one or more […]

As of March 4, 2024, 599 elementary students are suspended from school for continuing to have incomplete immunization records with the Health Unit; as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990. Children remaining on school suspension will have the suspension order lifted once parents/guardians take one or more […]

“The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) (1990), Section 11, Subsections (1) and (2) require public health units to maintain and review immunization records for every student attending school in Ontario; and to enforce a school suspension on students with incomplete immunization records. In the Fall of 2023, immunization records of […]

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is asking Ontario’s nurses to participate in a first-of-its-kind census. On Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) launched its first Workforce Census. The census, which is being sent to about 200,000 nurses in the province, includes questions that […]

Few children have the good fortune of wishing “Happy 100th Birthday” to a vibrant, healthy parent reaching that esteemed age. But that’s what my brothers and I are doing this week. We’ve had the incredible journey of growing up with Dr. W. Gifford-Jones as our dad! Countless people have asked, what’s […]

There has been a significant increase of measles activity worldwide, with measles cases recently reported in Ontario. As March Break approaches for many in the region, the WECHU strongly advises everyone to ensure they are up to date with all their vaccinations, including measles, prior to travelling. Individuals who are not fully […]

Years ago, after interviewing Dr. Michael McDonald, I asked, “Will you be my cardiologist?” Now, as I reach my 100th year I’m grateful his sound advice has kept me alive. He’s associated with the world class Peter Munk Cardiac Center affiliated with the University of Toronto. During my visit he […]

$424,525 is being invested in the Essex County NPLC to expand services The Ontario government is investing $424,525 to connect more people to primary care teams in Windsor-Essex through the Essex County Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic (NPLC). This is part of Ontario’s $110 million investment to connect up to 328,000 […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed to the public on Monday, February 19, 2024 for Family Day. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook:  Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit  

What do you hope for each morning as your tired eyes read the news? You try to be a positive person, but day by day, things are getting worse. The world is in an awful mess. If there is a God, how cruel a deity to let suffering continue. Is […]

Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) has officially broken ground in its eagerly anticipated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite, heralding a new era in diagnostic precision and patient care for Essex County. Scheduled to be completed in late 2024, the project is poised to transform healthcare delivery at ESHC. The purchase of […]

To raise youth awareness of the health effects of vaping, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has launched the Break the Vape Challenge. The Break the Vape Challenge is a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video contest. The WECHU encourages local students in grades 6 to 12 to use their voices […]

After a successful trial period, Windsor Regional Hospital’s Paediatric Emergency Diversion Service (PEDs) is getting set to expand to 7 days a week. Thanks to Ontario Ministry of Health funding, the pilot program was rolled out in September 2023 with the aim at reducing the time paediatric patients spend in […]

The Windsor Regional Cancer Centre is proud to offer a new service for cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. In August, The Paxman Scalp Cooling System (PSCS) also known as ‘cold cap’ became available onsite for patients to book, in an effort to help reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. The […]

Is necessity or curiosity the mother of innovation? Sometimes good old common sense is the driving factor, and there will be no Nobel prize for seeing the obvious. That, however, is what’s behind a new development in barber shops and hair salons. What’s the buzz? It’s that barbers and hairdressers […]

Windsor Regional Hospital was recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2022/23. In total, Windsor Regional Hospital was presented with three awards: Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Conversion Rate (7th year) reaching a […]

As of January 31, 2024 there are 2,593 elementary school students that are at risk of school suspension on March 1, 2024 due to missing vaccinations or immunization records that have not yet been submitted to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is proud to have entered a multi-faceted memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Windsor (UW) in 2022 to better serve the public health needs of Windsor-Essex County. Under this initiative, UW and WECHU have explored the possibility of research and knowledge translation […]

This week let’s look behind the scenes, in the labs where doctors and scientists are designing health supplements that address specific goals. What’s motivating them? What are they trying to do? And how successful are they? There are thousands of natural health supplements on the market – from vitamins and […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is issuing a warning to travelers and anyone who may have been exposed to measles infection at the following locations: Flight Lufthansa LH1661 from Timisoara Traian Vuia International Airport (TSR/LRTR), Romania, to Munich Airport (MU), Germany, on January 11, 2024, Departure time 6:14 AM (EET), […]

The Push-Up Challenge and Canadian Mental Health Association rally the support of Canadians in their push for better mental health this February. This February, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is encouraging Canadians to push for better mental health by participating in fitness-based mental health initiative, The Push-Up Challenge. The […]

Last week’s column suggested we are minnows in the grand life adventure. This week we’ll look at little beings in our bellies that seem to have outsized influence. What is it about these microscopic components of the gut-brain connection that leads us to thinking that a postbiotic supplement might be […]

The University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing, in collaboration with Continuing Education and with the Ontario Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner consortium, is launching a groundbreaking certification program that will allow registered nurses to prescribe certain medications. With this College of Nurses of Ontario-approved certificate from the Ontario University Consortium RN […]

By the time you are reading this article, the stakes establishing the life course of your health have long been set. Your genetic inheritance, location, and family circumstances, combined with a complex set of early life factors determine how your health trajectory will begin. Through childhood and adulthood, you have […]

As Windsor and Essex County begins to experience much colder temperatures, the community is reminded that there is support for those experiencing homelessness in our area. Below is a list of key services available for people experiencing homelessness in Windsor and Essex County: Services in Windsor Downtown Mission Shelter beds […]

Based on Environment Canada’s forecast, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health has issued a Cold Warning for January 15, 2024. A Cold Warning is issued when the temperature reaches -15°C (5°F) without the wind chill for one day. Everyone is at risk from cold, especially […]

One week into the New Year, and how are you doing on your resolutions? Most people make ambitious plans at the end of December and by this point can’t remember what they were. A few people overdo it, like those who commit to running a marathon before they’ve had success […]

Marilyn Monroe, the American actress and sex symbol of the 1950s, said, “Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.” It was scandalous then, and speaking about sex is still difficult terrain for many people. A reader recently asked for our thoughts on how to advise young […]

Windsor Regional Hospital seeks public input on the products and services that should offered at the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) and the J.C. Williams group are developing an Ancillary Services Strategy for the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital and are inviting all community members, staff, professional staff and […]

Why is it that the scariest and toughest illnesses occur at the festive time of year? Instead of family gatherings at home with music and merriment, for some people the holidays involve hushed tones at the bedside in a hospital. It may have started as nothing serious. An ache. Maybe […]

Health officials across the country are raising concerns about a new nicotine product that is being sold without age restrictions. Nicotine pouches under the brand name ”Zonnic” are being sold in flavours and packaging that are attractive to younger populations. The pouches are now widely available in local convenience stores […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed on: Friday, December 22 Monday, December 25 Tuesday, December 26 Friday, December 29 Monday, January 1, 2024 Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook:  Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Abraham Orthodontics was proud to present a donation of over $15,000.00 to the Erie Shores Health Foundation in support of the first MRI in Leamington at Erie Shores Health Care. The Abraham Orthodontics Holiday Social was a collaborative effort under the foundations’ Night of A Thousand Parties, where local businesses […]

SCOPE EXPANSION ALERT! In addition to all our previously listed vaccines we are now able to administer the RSV vaccination. This vaccine is not a public health vaccine and still requires a prescription from a prescriber (MD or NP) to obtain but now rather than having to take it to […]

Heart disease is called the “silent killer”. Why? Because the first symptom can be a fatal attack. Most people lead their lives unaware of the ticking time bomb within, neglecting lifestyle changes that could radically reduce the risk. The fact is, preventing heart disease needs to be a lifelong practice, […]

In a Canadian first, Children’s Hospital is improving the lives of paediatric epilepsy patients with new groundbreaking treatments Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition in paediatrics affecting approximately one in one-hundred Canadian children. For 11-year-old Makayla Douglass, epileptic seizures have been a part of her life since being diagnosed […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has partnered with Essex Fire and Rescue Services as part of the Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP). This new partnership will expand access and the use of naloxone during emergency overdose responses involving opioids. Through this program, the WECHU provides naloxone nasal spray to eligible […]

One-third of people in Canada have no dental insurance. In 2022, one out of every four Canadians reported that they have avoided visiting an oral health professional because of the expense, according to Health Canada. Poor oral health can lead to serious diseases and health complications, as well as higher […]

What’s the most depressing part of a newspaper? It’s the obituary section where you see many people dying too early in life. What causes these untimely deaths? A Gifford-Jones Law states that one bad health problem inevitably leads to another and another, causing people to die early. One of the […]

What’s the gift we’d like to have in stock for our readers this holiday season? It would be a healthy dose of common sense, and a reminder that not every health problem needs a medical solution. Unfortunately, few people open their minds when confronted with a swollen joint, an injury […]

The following statement was issued by Dr. Kenneth Blanchette, Chief Executive Officer for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU): “The approved 2024 budget for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit includes reductions in staffing and programming across multiple areas. Our health unit, like others in the province, is facing a fixed […]

The Mobile Medical Support Clinic (MMS) is coming soon to Migration Hall at 170 Main Street East in Kingsville. Mobile Medical Support (MMS) will be available on December 2 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and December 3 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. providing a variety of health and […]

November is Radon Action Month. But while the month is almost over, it’s not too late to test your home this winter. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is encouraging  people to test their homes for radon gas during the cold months this year. And the Essex County Library is […]

The fifth annual Nursing Now Ontario Awards (NNOA) is accepting nominations for Ontario-based nurse practitioners (NP), registered nurses (RN) and registered practical nurses (RPN) who have demonstrated high professional standards, superior evidence-based and compassionate clinical practice. Nurses across the province in all health sectors and settings provide quality care to individuals […]

The festive season is a time for social gatherings and alcohol often aides the merrymaking. Yet recent headlines advise to avoid alcohol at any time of year. The claim is that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. But the truth about alcohol is more nuanced, and recommendations for […]

Among a group of 30 high-income countries that have universally accessible health care, Canada has some of the lowest availability of doctors, hospital beds, and medical technologies—and the longest wait times, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “In terms […]

Is it wise to believe what the doctor tells you? Or are there misleading types, not entirely honest with their patients? Does the medical system place the patient’s best interests first, as commonly stated on health center posters? Or do other factors, like pressure to ease wait times for a […]

Mobile Medical Support (MMS) is a community liaison team of healthcare professionals who help clients overcome barriers that prevent them from seeking healthcare and linking into community resources. The mobile clinic runs through the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team (WEOHT) and provides various supports including mental health and addiction and dental. […]