New institute for the promotion of rural health launched

Posted November 28, 2001


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 28, 2001 2001-11-19-ME

New institute for the promotion of rural health launched

A world-class Saskatoon research centre that supports the study and
promotion of rural health has recast itself as an even more dynamic new
institute designed to tackle a wider range of health and safety issues
facing rural, agricultural and remote people.

The Centre for Agricultural Medicine (CAM), begun in 1986 as a research body
in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, was re-launched by
officials today as the new Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental
Health (I.ARE.H), at a downtown ceremony that capped three days of
scientific workshops celebrating CAM's 15th anniversary.

A large poster with the new Institute's logo and mission statement was
unveiled by U of S President Peter MacKinnon, I.ARE.H faculty member Dr.
Debra Morgan, and masters student Josh Lawson during a luncheon ceremony.

Dr. Jim Dosman, Director of the former CAM and now Director of I.ARE.H says
the new Institute will carry out a wide-ranging program of research,
education, and delivery of services in agricultural, rural, environmental
and occupational health.

He says the Institute will build on the success of the former Centre in
working with rural, agricultural and remote people on basic and applied
research and leading-edge strategies that address their particular health
and safety issues and needs. It will be able to build on and go beyond
current Centre initiatives like the Agricultural Health and Safety Network
and the Rural Health Extension Program.

"We are a research institute with a difference," Dosman says, noting it has
"one of the world's most active programs," turning its collaborative studies
of rural and agricultural issues into practical health and safety solutions
for farmers and others. The change of name reflects the current realities
of what the Centre has become -- growing from an initial focus just on
agriculture, to now include related issues like agricultural and rural
occupational health, environmental concerns, and healthy lifestyles.

He says the Institute, like the Centre before it, has unique advantages that
can help it to become the world's leading authority on the health of rural,
agricultural and remote people: It is located at the only Canadian
university that has all five health sciences colleges -- medicine,
dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy and nutrition -- and
also an agricultural science complex of international stature. Beyond that,
it lies in the heart of
Canada's most rural province, with 37 per cent of people living in rural
areas, with more than 23,000 farm families. And, it has extensive links
with rural and agricultural people, organizations and companies.

"We have tremendous links to our community," Dosman says, adding, "We have a
close relationship with more than 30 businesses, co-operatives and
foundations that have supported our activities financially and in many other
ways."

By building a core knowledge base in its four health competencies of
agricultural, rural, environmental and occupational health, the Institute
will increase its international profile and can attract increased funding
that will enable it to conduct more research and deliver more outreach and
client programs. And, Dosman notes, while the Institute's main focus will
remain on rural health, it will also continue the Centre's broader look at
occupational health and safety issues in related fields like mining,
forestry and manufacturing. These areas have common issues like air quality
for people working near chemicals and air-suspended particles, and the safe
operation of industrial or agricultural equipment. The Centre for
Agricultural Medicine will continue to operate as a competency within the
new Institute, primarily involved in the delivery of services.

The original Centre was established by an agreement between the U of S and
the Saskatchewan Lung Association. It has grown to develop an endowment
fund, funded research, and support from businesses and organizations -- for
a budget in 2002 of $1.96 million to fund projects by researchers. Each
year about seven major research projects are sponsored. The Centre also
publishes a bilingual newsletter that goes to more than 200,000 locations
across Canada. And, from time to time it sponsors major conferences on
current issues in rural and agricultural health.

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Centre sponsored a Nov. 27-29 series
of scientific workshops on agricultural, rural, environmental and
occupational health topics, attended by scientists, researchers and farmers.
On Nov. 28 a special day-long 'Saskatchewan Farm Injury Control Summit' was
also held.

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For further information, contact:

Dr. Jim Dosman
Director, Institute for Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
Tel: (306) 966-8286 Fax: (306) 966-8799
E-mail: james.dosman@usask.ca
Website: http://www.usask.ca/medicine/agmedicine/index2.html