Program Overview

The Medical Health Officer (MHO) provides guidance in the application of the Public Health Act, 1994, and other Regulations within NITHA partner communities. The MHO provides public health expertise to the NITHA partner communities in the areas of disease surveillance, communicable disease prevention and control, disease and injury prevention, community health assessment, health protection and health promotion.

A critical role of the MHO is to provide on-going collaboration and engagement with various stakeholders within a multi-jurisdictional environment. The MHO provides strategic direction, leadership, coordination of the NITHA Public Health Unit.
Key responsibilities of NITHA MHO
  1. Legal and Enforcement:
    • Responsible for carrying out legislated requirements under the Public Health Act, 1994, the Tobacco Control Act, and other related Regulations.
    • Responsible for directing the public health response to local public health threats in NITHA communities.
    • Responsible for advising and reporting on local public health issues.
  2. Disease Surveillance:
    • Monitoring the rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases; developing relevant policies and procedures.
    • Providing evidence-based recommendations and advice concerning a wide variety of health issues including but not limited to immunization, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, drinking water, food, and animal bite.
  3. Public Health Consultation
    • Providing appropriate consultation on public health issues to NITHA partner communities and other relevant agencies.
    • Providing evidence-based opinions to physicians, community health workers, Chief & Councils, school boards, health boards, and community groups on a wide variety of health issues.
  4. Population Health
    • Responsible for monitoring and assessing the health status of NITHA communities, making recommendations for strategies to address health issues to the NITHA Executive Council and Board of Chiefs.
    • Responsible for implementing immediate actions when necessary to protect the health of the public.
    • Responsible for the collection of data and statistics over a broad range of health and health-related issues, analyzing trends and problems, interpreting these concerns, and preparing reports, briefs, and profiles on the significant health and health-related issues affecting NITHA partner communities.
  5. Health Promotion and Advocacy for Public Health Causes:
    • Promoting good health and well-being among NITHA community residents
    • Serve as an advocate for NITHA partner communities. Speaks on behalf of vulnerable and marginalized members of the community, and those at risk.
    • Communicating directly with the public through the media and other means and with the NITHA Board of Chiefs and Executive Council on health issues affecting partner communities.
    • Promoting a high standard of health, public health services, and health care in the community.
  6. Health Education:
    • Providing in-service training of community health staff about public health matters
  7. Environmental Public Health:
    • Monitoring, and providing consultations, on environmental health issues such as drinking water, animal bites, air quality, and food safety
  8. Community Health Planning, Research, and Evaluation:
    • Supporting NITHA partners communities with community health planning and evaluation of the effectiveness of programs designed to address emerging health issues
    • Supporting NITHA partner communities in the development and implementation of research initiatives.