How health intersects with public policy has been at the forefront of political moves since COVID-19 came to our country, and Patty Hajdu has been leading the pack.
The social determinants of health, including housing, income equality, social inclusion and primary healthcare are at the top of Hajdu’s list.
“What drew me into federal politics [are] those foundational pieces.”
Since the first briefing of COVID in January, Hajdu threw herself into the safety of her constituents.
“Much of the work in my mandate letter had to be put aside to focus on our COVID-19 response. [It was] all hands-on deck.”
Hajdu says the early cases were so easily detected because of compliance with travel regulations and the work they’ve done with the scientific community and the researchers, as well as Dr. Tam and the leadership through all of the medical officers of health. This has been a hallmark of the Canadian response: trusting science.
“Our response was not perfect, but it was certainly guided by science.”
Thunder Bay support
Hajdu says she has had such incredible support from the community at the local level here in Thunder Bay.
“I was [physically] pulled away from constituency work to be Minister of Health.” And although being physically pulled away from her local constituents, Hajdu has stayed connected to the community.
As Ontario revises and refines their testing strategy to keep up with the second wave and possibility of a bigger volume of tests, she says what’s most important is keeping on with the public health advice we’re getting.
“We’ve been very lucky in Thunder Bay… The fact that we’re adhering to these public health measurements has been really positive.”
Linking policy and public health
Since the beginning of Covid-19 in February the country, and the world, is seeing a rise in mental health and substance use.
Hajdu agrees that the global pandemic increased Canadians’ experience of isolation and anxiety; to help, Health Canada created the Wellness Together Canada portal, a virtual mental health platform where Canadians can get help from professionals and find strategies for healthy coping.
“The worry [is] around the reduction in our ability to socialize. People’s network of support is being disrupted.”
Preventative measures for steps forward
Hajdu and her team are using this as an opportune time to talk about more progressive drug policy as COVID-19 is highlights the long-standing cracks we tend to paper over, she notes, and has accelerated the work she’s doing relating to housing and drug policy.
“COVID-19 has highlighted that we are stronger when there’s a stronger foundation of equity in our communities.”
Hajdu has taken this time to accelerate the tools communities need for keeping people healthy and is bringing progressive drug policy to the forefront of what needs to be discussed with her colleagues and constituents.
This new normal and idea of coping mechanisms lays bare what public health has always known: that inequity and disease is more often prevalent in poverty because they are so isolated and don’t have the same assets in their lives as the middle class.
One thing is certain, COVID-19 has accelerated the work Hajdu is doing for her constituents.
Wellness Together Canada is an online platform that provides Canadians with a virtual space to seek help with their mental health and find tools and practices to manage their mental well-being. It can be found at ca.Portal.gs.
