Kingsville Times

Readers of a great age face a common problem. It’s called frailty or general weakness. The frail elderly are at risk of falls that require hospitalization, often leading to palliative care. As the condition progresses, independent living at home can become impossible. For people who have reached the end of […]

A pair of local surgeons are keeping their legacy of giving to the Windsor-Essex community alive. Last year, Dr. Fouad Tayfour and Dr. Barry Emara came forward with a $250,000 donation to establish the ‘Tayfour-Emara Excellence in Research & Education Fund’. For 2023, they’re upping the ante with a $330,000 […]

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 Wednesday, July 26 to Friday, July 28, 2023 for Windsor and Essex County. Everyone is at risk from heat, especially older adults, infants and young children, people […]

Routine monitoring for West Nile Virus (WNV) has identified one positive mosquito pool in our community. This is the first sign of WNV in Windsor and Essex County (WEC) this year. Certain types of mosquitoes spread WNV, a potentially serious infection to humans. So far in 2023, no human cases of WNV […]

Winston Churchill said, “The only statistics you can trust are those you falsified yourself.” Unreliable statistics make it hard to know how many people die each year due to medication errors. How many more are taking harmful drug combinations or the wrong doses?  The numbers are elusive because medical professionals […]

Everyone wants a safe, effective, and accessible supply of the products that keep us healthy. Doctors and patients need proven drugs. People seeking to prevent illness with natural remedies also need good products. But governments trying to ensure quality are putting measures in place that will limit the variety of […]

The United Nations has declared that access to essential medicines is a fundamental human right, yet more than one million Canadians do not have prescription drug coverage. This is a devastating problem, leading those without access to financial aid or employer benefits to have to make an impossible choice of prioritizing […]

What a great day and wonderful experience on July 5th at Ireland Manual Physiotherapy Clinic in Kingsville! Founder of Become the CEO of Your Health Margaret Wallis-Duffy (RMT)  and Founder of Osteosound Megan Buhrmester were on hand for their bone scan clinic. The EchoS rapidly generates a medical report that […]

How we wish there were better ways to treat pain. But scientists are struggling to find them. The very nature of pain remains illusive too. Determining if pain is mild, moderate, or severe is a personal perception. Doctors and nurses ask patients to rate their pain from zero to ten. […]

Erie Shores Health Foundation (ESHF) recently granted over $1.3 million to Erie Shores HealthCare and The Hospice, Erie Shores Campus. These grants represented the noteworthy outpour of support from members of the community committed to advancing healthcare close to home. ESHF’s grant of $689,000 to The Hospice, Erie Shores Campus […]

Based on information from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health has issued a Heat Warning for July 4 and July 5, 2023. A heat warning is issued when two consecutive days are forecasted to have a daytime high temperature greater […]

Ask any singer what they detest the most and they will say, “People who cough at concerts.” So how do you tell if your annoying cough is due to getting older or being a little out of shape? Is it a common cold? Or could it be a life-threating condition, […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit office will be closed to the public on Friday, June 30 for Canada 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

June 27, 2023 for Windsor – Leamington – Essex County, ON High levels of air pollution in Windsor and Essex County will develop due to smoke from forest fires. Smoke plumes from forest fires over northeastern Ontario and Quebec will move into the area this afternoon or tonight, resulting in […]

What is the world coming to? Recent news has artificial intelligence (AI) researchers and CEOS warning of an “extinction risk” from the technology running wild. Forest fires are literally running wild too. Nuclear war might us out. Or economic collapse. If these things don’t get you stressed, then how about […]

The virtual site tour video of SafePoint has officially launched. Located at 101 Wyandotte Street East, SafePoint is the first health facility to offer supervised consumption services in the City of Windsor. As part of SafePoint’s commitment to community engagement, the video was created to provide community members with a […]

A third MRI machine at Windsor Regional Hospital is currently in operation and about to ramp up to full capacity, adding thousands of additional scans for patients on an annual basis. In December 2022, the provincial government announced funding for 27 new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines across Ontario including […]

At the Board of Health meeting on June 15, 2023 the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit showcased a virtual video site tour of the SafePoint site located at 101 Wyandotte Street East in Windsor. As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, the video was created to provide members of […]

Albert Einstein wrote, “Everything is a miracle.” Is it possible that a new class of drugs is finally providing a miracle in the fight against diabetes? Ozempic and Trulicity, produced by Novo Nordisk and Ely Lilly, are examples of the brand-name prescription drugs gaining attention for fighting type 2 diabetes […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has launched the 2023 beach water quality testing program at 8 local beaches. On Monday June 12, 2023, beach water samples were taken by Public Health Inspectors from Sandpoint Beach, Lakeshore Lakeview Park West Beach, Point Pelee North West Beach, Seacliff Park Beach, Cedar Island […]

Dog lovers may want to skip this week’s commentary. For cat lovers too, this column may prove a disappointment. A health risk assessment of household cats might be all you need to recommit to a dog. Cats are the darlings of the Internet. And that may be the safest way […]

The following statement came from Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Medical Officer of Health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU): “With Environment Canada issuing a Special Air Quality Statement for our region due to smoke from wildfires, I want to remind residents of Windsor and Essex County that wildfire smoke can […]

A humorous greeting card reads, “Technically I’m still young, but due to my back pain, I’m actually 90.” Whatever the age, including 99, back pain can be agonizing. It’s a surprisingly common problem. A new study published by the Lancet Rheumatology Journal reports that 619 million people suffer from low back pain […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) launched their active tick surveillance program on Friday, June 2, 2023. This involves the identification and testing of ticks that are collected by public health staff. The field surveillance is conducted at public parks and trails that are frequently used by residents to retrieve […]

Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) is excited to serve as the training ground for ten first-year medical students from Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (London and Windsor Campus) during Discovery Week 2023, taking place from May 29 to June 2. Discovery Week is a specialized learning experience that […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be starting beach water quality testing program at 8 local beaches on June 12th, 2023. The beach water samples will be taken by Public Health Inspectors from Sandpoint Beach, Lakeshore Lakeview Park West Beach, Point Pelee North West Beach, Seacliff Park Beach, Cedar Island […]

It was surprising news in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. There’s another about-turn among scientists studying hormone therapy (HT) as a treatment for symptoms of menopause. This time, researchers have produced findings that suggest benefits to healthy women who start HT early in the transition to menopause. Women have long […]

Mickey Mantle, former star of the New York Yankees baseball team, often remarked, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” He was only 63 when he died. Now, with many of us getting a good chance to live beyond 100, […]

As temperatures start to climb, the Ontario government is encouraging people across the province to take precautions to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses when enjoying the outdoors. While ticks are most active in spring and summer, they can be found during […]

The University of Windsor and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) are pleased to announce that three (3) new Canada Research Chairs focused on public health have been approved for federal funding, which will allow for the University to recruit leading public health experts to the Windsor-Essex region. Since the announcement […]

How important is what I like to call the “Total Family Doctor” (TFD)? For years, I’ve praised the hardworking family doctor for the role he or she plays in medical care. Now, many North Americans say it’s impossible to find a family doctor.  What has happened to them? Prior to […]

Nurses at Windsor Regional were honoured this week to recognize nursing excellence and continuing education efforts. Winners of the Jeanne Mance Extraordinary Nursing Care Awards go to a nurse who continually goes above and beyond to provide compassionate and professional care to patients and exemplifies teamwork, compassion, stewardship and respect. […]

Over 65 brain tumour researchers, doctors, survivors, volunteers and families gathered on May 11th at the Centre for Research Excellence (CORe) at the University of Windsor to tour the tumour research laboratory to learn first-hand about brain tumour research happening locally. May is Brain Tumour Awareness Month in Canada which […]

Why do some women shy away from sex? It might be fatigue after a long day where everything, everything, has gone wrong. But before men jump to conclusions, they should know about a disease called endometriosis. This problem causes severe pain during sex.  It occurs in about 10 percent of […]

When asked how to become a famous comedian, Steve Martin replied, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” It’s true, bad performers can usually be ignored. But there’s no ignoring bad public washrooms. Public washrooms have a reputation for abysmal filth, as evidenced by dirty toilets, overflowing trash, empty or […]

It’s tick season and the little pests are out with a vengeance. Tiny as they are, ticks are a huge nuisance and a hazardous vector of disease. Their ability to latch onto unsuspecting hosts has made them one of the most successful blood-sucking parasites on the planet. Ticks are the […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) Board of Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mehdi Aloosh as the region’s new Acting Medical Officer of Health (Acting MOH), effective May 1. Dr. Aloosh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position as a public health and […]

You may be forgiven if you are unfamiliar with Aquaman, a superhero who breathes underwater, communicates with sea creatures, and possesses superhuman strength and agility. But revisit past columns if you haven’t learned that fish are the real superheroes. Why? Because when mere mortals consume fish, their bodies gain extraordinary […]

We’re looking for your feedback on our programs and services. Your input will help us improve how we support the health of our community. If you haven’t done our survey yet, you can find it online here. The purpose of this survey is to help the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit […]

How long has this column recommended a high-fiber diet? Since March 1978 when readers were informed that processed foods create a “slow assembly line” in the bowels. Now some of the world’s most highly regarded nutritional scientists at Imperial College London say dietary fiber is “the best health advice of […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed to the public on Friday, April 7 and Monday, April 10 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

The routine of modern-day life for most of us involves regular trips to the grocery store and three meals a day. The regular patterns of our diet can be a source of comfort or a rushed necessity. But is eating the same familiar foods – often the same recipes, products, […]

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 members of the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) ratified a new four-year funding agreement with the Government of Ontario. The changes in this agreement are based on the best available clinical evidence and expert opinion for providing people appropriate eye care, as well as the […]

Erie Shores HealthCare is pleased to announce the launch of a second Emergency Department Wait Time Clock to help patients make informed decisions about their healthcare needs. The new clock will display the expected wait time for the Rapid Assessment Zone (RAZ) within the Emergency Department. Erie Shores is one of […]

The law of gravity means our bodies are pulled down to Earth. This fact inevitably spells trouble over time. But for some women, it causes inconvenient and annoying issues, and sometimes surgery, to address what’s called vaginal prolapse. Not all women are born equal. Some inherit tougher pelvic tissues and […]

Main Street Pharmacy is on-site today and over the weekend at the Kingsville Legion with the Windsor Essex Ontario Health Team Mobile Medical Clinic. Come in for primary and acute care needs provided by an amazing team of nurse practitioners and nurses. Friday, March 24 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday, […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Warns Community of Rising Cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in the Region The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is urging individuals to keep themselves up to date with the pertussis vaccine after a recent dramatic rise of cases in the region. Since November 1, 2022, […]

It’s an age-old problem, but not one that should come with age. Yet, compared to younger culinary novices, elderly people may be more prone to making mistakes in food preparation that can lead to food poisoning. Kitchens can be a dangerous place. So no harm in having a refresher to […]

In a letter to the editor of the Journal of Paris in 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” In his advocacy for people to wake up and leverage the day, Franklin joked there should be a tax on window […]

A pop-up clinic will  be taking place March 10, 2023 at the Leamington Office of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. The clinic will offer COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines for those 5 years old and up. No appointment is needed. Date: Friday, March 10 Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Location: […]

People often ask me, what’s my secret to a long and healthy life? This week, I start my 100th trip around the sun. So I must acknowledge that Lady Luck has been on my side. But it’s not just good luck, or good genes. As a medical doctor, I learned early […]

Did you or someone you know borrow a radon detector test kit this past year? The Windsor Essex County Health Unit and Essex County Library are asking you to take a few minutes to complete this survey https://chkmkt.com/radonsurvey The survey is anonymous and will take less than 5 minutes to […]

March is National Nutrition Month and this year, Dietitians across Canada are calling on Canadians to unlock the potential of food by finding a dietitian. Understanding nutrition and developing food skills can be intimidating for many, but eating well doesn’t necessarily mean giving up your favourite foods. This March, the […]

Vitamin D is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.” This is because it is synthesized in our skin in response to sunlight. The beauty of Vitamin D is that it’s free – a great model for “all things in moderation” too. There are two main forms of vitamin D: […]

This month marks twenty years since the Gifford-Jones newspaper column became accompanied by a “medical update” sent by email to subscribing readers. In early February 2003, the column printed in newspapers was titled, “My E-Mail Nightmare”. It began like this: My daughter said, “Dad don’t do it. You don’t need […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed to the public on Monday, February 20, 2023 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

In healthcare, it’s the elusive breakthrough to a cure for diseases like cancer that has us all hoping. But sometimes it’s the bit-by-bit advancements, rarely getting headings, that make for greater impact.  An example is the field of 3D printing, not even a medical technology by inception, but now a […]

Our network will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 8 p.m. which will include www.wechu.org. All network resources should be back up and running at 9 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: (519) 258-2146 Facebook: Windsor-Essex County HEALTH UNIT Twitter: WEC […]

No one in our family has ever needed to cling to a telephone pole on the way home after drinking too much alcohol. Rather, we have long held that moderate amounts of alcohol can be healthy. But are we right? Now, a new Canadian report claims more than one or […]

As part of the continued work to prevent the spread of vaccine preventable diseases, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) completed a review of all elementary student immunization records in December and more than 12,000 students received a notice. These students were either overdue for one or more vaccines required […]

You may have preconceived ideas that magic mushrooms are the party drugs of days past. However, in Canada and other countries, regulations are starting to ease on these prohibited psychedelics. The impetus stems from clinical trials showing remarkable results in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment-resistant depression. The question […]

Businesses, residents, and agencies are invited to have their say at Virtual Town Halls ahead of the opening of the Consumption and Treatment Services Site. In preparation for the launch of the Consumption and Treatment Service (CTS) Site, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), in partnership with the CTS Stakeholder […]

What is one of the most common health problems that develops in people as they age, and also one of the least discussed? The answer is chronic swelling of the legs. At best, it’s a natural consequence of aging. But also known as peripheral edema, there can be medical, nutritional, […]

At the meeting held on Thursday, January 19, 2023, Councillor Fabio Costante was elected as the new chair of the region’s Board of Health. As a returning member and City of Windsor Ward 2 Councillor, Costante brings experience and expertise to a board of health which welcomes several new members. […]

Investments will connect people in Windsor-Essex with more cancer and cardiac treatment close to home As the Ontario government accelerates the timeline to build the new Windsor Regional Hospital, it is investing approximately $30 million in the current hospital to connect people with improved treatments for patients with cancer and […]

Ontario is making it easier and faster for people to access the publicly-funded surgeries and procedures they need by using community-based clinics to eliminate surgical backlogs and reduce wait times. The three-step plan will: • Add 14k more OHIP-insured cataract surgeries each year • Expand community-based clinics to perform more […]

A Moroccan proverb claims, “If a man leaves little children behind him, it is as if he did not die.” A Sanskrit saying translates as, “A house without children is only a cemetery.” Having children may be central to sustained human life. But over the past several years, there has […]

It’s been said that parents should be nice to their children. “After all, they are going to choose your nursing home.” So it is punishment or reward when children choose to help their parents stay living in their own homes? Some lifestyle choices are clear as night and day. Don’t […]

What should we conclude when health experts say people over 45 should not shovel snow? That’s a young age! What could be so threatening about clearing the snow to people in the prime of life? A winter storm may inspire some to curl up under a blanket. But for others, […]

As we head into 2023, we wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! If you are out celebrating New Year’s Eve, please be safe – plan for a ride, have a designated driver, or stay the night. Reminder: We will be closed to the public December 30 through January […]

Spread the word! Starting January 1, 2023 pharmacies can be your one-stop shop to get prescriptions for some of the most common ailments such as pink eye, rashes, insect bites, and urinary tract infections, at no extra cost. Skipping the doctor’s office visit gives you more convenient options to access […]

As 2022 comes to a close, grave existential questions loom. Is the doomsday clock ticking louder? Have we harmed our planetary home beyond repair? Is the global economy headed for collapse, or will a reckless war end all things? These are some of the debates that friends and families will […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed to the public on: Friday, December 23 Monday, December 26 Tuesday, December 27 Friday, December 30 Monday, January 2 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

The holiday season is a time for gathering amongst family and friends, which heightens the risk for transmission of respiratory illness. In previous years, the region has experienced large spikes in COVID-19 activity in the month of January. In this regard, WECHU is strongly encouraging residents to help prevent the […]

COVID-19, Cold, and Flu Care Clinics are available at Erie Shores HealthCare and Windsor Regional Hospital. The clinics test, assess and provide treatment for people with COVID-19, and other cold and flu-like illness An appointment is required. Book with Erie Shores HealthCare Book with Windsor Regional Hospital

There’s a lot of “stuff” this time of year – the stuffing in the turkey, for example, or all the meaningless commercial stuff we buy for the holidays that ends up in landfills. The holidays are a good time to look around and assess what is good stuff and what […]

What a wonderful world if people could be as generous to humankind as dogs. Regardless of our faults, dogs provide unfailing loving care. A new study suggests dogs may be able to use their sniffing powers to know when someone is having a really bad day. Who knew there is […]

Elementary School Students with Out-of-Date Immunization Records Risk Being Suspended in March The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990 requires all students in Ontario to be up-to-date on immunizations. Public health units are to maintain and review vaccine records for every student attending school in their region and those […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed on Friday, December 9 starting at 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. 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

Can you improve muscle mass even as you age? As Mickey Mantle, star player of the New York Yankees, remarked, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” Such is my worry in my 99th year. I was recently having more difficulty […]

Rising numbers of respiratory illness and COVID cases are prompting Erie Shores HealthCare to launch the COVID Cold & Flu Care Clinic. The Clinic will treat individuals suffering from moderate cold, flu or COVID-like symptoms. The Clinic, an expansion of the former COVID Clinical Assessment Centre, will allow patients who […]

This week entails a visit to the Gifford-Jones archives.  What follows is an excerpt from a column on diabetes published thirty years ago. What has changed in society? You be the judge. November 1992: Diabetes results from an abnormal handling of food by the body. Normally some food is converted […]

It’s recommended to test your home for #radon during the fall and winter months when homes are closed to the outdoors. Purchase a long-term test kit or borrow a short-term test device from any open branch of the Essex County Library. Radon – the only way to know your level […]

Wandering poorly prepared into a discussion about video games is ill-advised. Yet, people who don’t play video games commonly argue that long hours spent focused on digital playthings, especially by children, rot their brains. It is an uninformed point of view. There are plentiful misconceptions about video games. That label […]

Our network will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Wednesday, November 16 at 4:30 p.m. which will include www.wechu.org. All network resources should be back up and running at 7:30 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: (519) 258-2146 Facebook: Windsor-Essex County HEALTH UNIT Twitter: WEC […]

Due to updated federal and provincial guidance related to the importance of masking indoors, issued in response to an autumn surge in respiratory illnesses, the County of Essex is again implementing a masking policy in its facilities. Effective 8 a.m. Tuesday, medical grade surgical masks will be required in County […]

An old Irish proverb says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” But research suggests it would be wiser to think of good sleep as an ingredient of wellbeing – a starting point for health, not a fixer-upper. Sleep is an essential […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be closed to the public on Friday, November 11 for Remembrance 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

Beware the “silent thief of sight.” Glaucoma sneaks up on people causing irreparable vision loss before diagnosis. Over 3 million North Americans have glaucoma – about half don’t know it. For society, the economic and social consequences of stolen sight is large. For sufferers, when glaucoma progresses to blindness, it […]