Public health services

Public health services are provided through public health offices and community health centres to help people prevent health problems.

Public health nurses and other staff at public health offices and community health centres offer free health information on a wide variety of topics such as:

• Child care.
• Nutrition.
• Dental health.
• Injury prevention.
• Prevention of communicable diseases (for example, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases).
• Family planning and birth control.

They also offer health programs for pregnant women, babies and children. If required, they may be able to arrange for an interpreter.

To find a public health office or community health centre, call Health Link or your local health region, talk to someone at an immigrant-serving agency or look in the blue pages or white pages of your telephone directory.

Immunization

Everyone who comes to Alberta from another country should be immunized for protection against certain diseases. Newcomers often have been immunized against some diseases before they arrive but may not have been immunized against all of the most serious diseases.

If you have immunization records from your home country, show them to a doctor or nurse at a public health office or community health centre.

All children in Alberta are immunized free of charge at public health offices or community health centres, or by visiting nurses at schools. Parents are asked to give permission for their children to be immunized.

Date Updated: Nov 01, 2007
RDP-590