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Chronic Disease Control

The Chronic Disease Control Division is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of provincial policies and programs related to chronic disease prevention and management in Newfoundland and Labrador. Improving Health Together: A Policy Framework for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in Newfoundland and Labrador sets the direction for action by all partners including government, community groups, employers, the health system, and individuals.

What are Chronic Diseases?

The World Health Organization defines chronic diseases as “diseases of long duration and generally slow progression.” Common themes found in other definitions state that chronic diseases:

• have many causes but often share common risk factors
• usually begin slowly and develop gradually over time
• can occur at any age, although they become more common in later life
• can impact quality of life and limit daily activities
• require ongoing actions on a long term basis to manage the disease, with involvement from individuals, health care providers and the community

While chronic diseases can include both infectious and non-infectious diseases, Improving Health Together focuses on a select number of non-infectious diseases and conditions that affect a large portion of the population and have a significant impact on quality of life. These include:

• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease
• Stroke

In addition to disease-specific actions, the Framework focuses on health system changes which will provide improved support for people at risk of developing, or living with, all types of chronic diseases.

Future action over the next several years will stem from these policy statements:

• Self-Management: Being the manager of your own health
• Prevention and Awareness: Promoting health and preventing disease
• Health Care Delivery: Organizing and coordinating services to meet the needs of individuals
• Practice Guidelines: Using current information and standards to provide quality care
• Information Systems and Research: Collecting and using data to guide and monitor programs and services
• Community Action: Working together for better health

Provincial Chronic Disease Control Initiatives

• Improving Health Together: A Policy Framework for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in Newfoundland and Labrador (9.4 MB)
• Improving Health: My Way: The Provincial Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
• Gaining Ground: A Provincial Cancer Control Policy Framework for Newfoundland and Labrador
• Provincial Cancer Prevention and Awareness Grants Program
• Provincial Kidney Plan
• Provincial Integrated Stroke Strategy – NL Heart and Stroke Foundation

National Chronic Disease Strategies and Reports

• National Lung Health Framework
• Canadian Heart Health Strategy
• Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control
• Life with Arthritis in Canada: A Personal and Public Health Challenge
• International Declaration on Chronic Pain
• The Quality of Stroke Care in Canada 2011

Other Provincial Health and Wellness Initiatives

In addition to the provincial chronic disease control initiatives, there are a number of plans and strategies that seek to improve and maintain good health and wellness, as well as to prevent chronic disease. These include:

• The Provincial Wellness Plan
• The Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework
• The Poverty Reduction Strategy
• The Recreation and Sport Strategy
• Working Together for Mental Health

Information Links

Click on the links below to learn more about the following chronic diseases:

NOTE: All links will open in a new window.

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Crohn’s and Colitis
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Huntington’s Disease
• Kidney Disease
• Lung Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Stroke

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