Jul
4
By Vanessa Hammond
Which is “healthier” – achieving and maintaining optimal wellness or waiting until you are suffering and then going to a health professional to have your symptoms treated by medical, pharmaceutical or surgical means? We all know that staying healthy is easier on us and much less of a strain on our tax-based medical system, the Medical Services Plan. How do we do this?
In early June the Victoria Health Co-op introduced the “Hans Kai” program to a group of community organizations and individuals, equipping them to lead Hans Kai groups in their own organizations. Through a two day session, we completed the 8 session “Health School” learning how to monitor our “health indicators” – blood pressure, blood sugar (yes, I learned how to take my own blood sample and it didn’t hurt!) and waist circumference.
We also learned how to run a “Hans Kai” group. Ideally “Hans Kai” is added to the existing activities of a group to help members achieve optimal wellness. The program works for people in normal health with any ongoing medical condition under control. Groups already active in Canada include book clubs, cooking, walking, seniors, teens, and work-place groups.
We talked about the many ways in which groups adapt “Hans Kai” to meet their specific needs and interests. Participant Ro Fife of the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association commented, “This is the way for communities to take back leadership in their own health. It recognizes the importance of peer support and acknowledges the knowledge that already exists in any group.”
“Hans Kai” evolved in Japan where there are now over 150,000 participants and was introduced to Canada by NorWest Co-op in Winnipeg and RobertCliche Co-op in Quebec. Victoria Health Co-op is the organizer for BC. The copyrighted program is available only through members, such as the VHC, of the Health Care Co-op Federation of Canada.
The University of Manitoba research program has identified that “Hans Kai” produces statistically significant results. The full research report will be available later in the year.
We are very grateful to anonymous members of the Victoria Health Co-op for providing the funding, through our Creating Community Wellness Society, to bring the trainers from Winnipeg, provide their accommodation and cover the cost of food for the training session. And “Thank you” to Fairfield United Church for once again providing a great meeting space.
If you are interested in joining or leading a group, or are just curious, please contact our co-op. Vichealthcoop@gmail.com or Vanessa at 250.415.9272.
If you would like to provide a donation to this or any other community program of the Victoria Health Co-op, please contact Chris at chris01@telus.net or Vanessa.