OPHA has joined the ranks of organizations expressing
concern about the Ontario government's removal of the
supplementary nutrition benefit.


April 21, 1998

Hon. Michael D. Harris
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
M7A-1A1

On behalf of the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA), I
am writing to express our concern about your government's
withdrawal of the $222.00 food allowance provided to
pregnant women receiving social assistance.

Specifically, OPHA is concerned that the removal of this
funding will exacerbate the impact of previous social
assistance cuts on the health and well-being of mothers and
children. Statistics from the Daily Bread foodbank indicate
that nearly half of expectant mothers using foodbanks
go hungry once or twice a week;seventy percent go without
food once or twice a month.

The end result of this deprivation is increased
susceptibility to preventable health problems for mothers
and children alike. It's been well established
that the lack of adequate nutrition during pregnancy greatly
increases the incidence of babies with low birthweight, a
condition linked to a number of health problems and
developmental delays requiring costly medical
interventions.

The provision of targeted prenatal assistance programs, such
as the food supplement allowance, have clearly demonstrated
cost savings. For example, data from the Montreal Diet
Dispensary has shown that every dollar spent on food and
counselling for at-risk pregnant women saves nine dollars in
subsequent treatment costs.

As a community health association committed to promoting the
health of Ontario's children, OPHA has actively supported
provincial initiatives such as Healthy Babies/Healthy
Children. To fully realize the benefits of these programs,
however, expectant mothers also require resources to meet
their basic nutritional needs.

For the reasons listed above, OPHA urges you to reconsider
your government's withdrawal of the supplementary food
benefit for expectant mothers. The health and well-being of
at-risk children in Ontario will be affected by your
decision.


Sincerely,

Brian Hyndman
President,
Ontario Public Health Association.



_________________
Brian Hyndman
The Centre for Health Promotion
University of Toronto, The Banting Institute
100 College Street, Room 215
Toronto, ON  M5G 1L5
Tel: 416-978-0586
Fax: 416-971-2443
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www.utoronto.ca/chp