Primary Health Care Awareness Campaign Wins Award

A campaign that helps Nova Scotians better understand the front-line work being undertaken by health-care providers has earned the province a prestigious communications award.

Communications Nova Scotia and the Department of Health received a Gemstone Award for its Primary Health Care Campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Canadian Public Relations Society's celebration of the best in provincial communications strategies, materials and campaigns.

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's leaders in primary health care -- a fact that was highlighted in the campaign DVD, brochure, fact sheets and a new updated website.

The campaign, led by communications advisor Tina Thibeau and in conjunction with Communications Nova Scotia, was designed to help Nova Scotians understand that health care is not just about being admitted to a hospital. Primary health care happens when people meet with a public health nurse to talk about blood pressure, get flu shots at the local health clinic or when they visit a family doctor.

The campaign materials are now being used throughout Nova Scotia's health-care system as an educational tool.

"We were pleased to see our campaign on primary health care win," said Laura Lee Langley, assistant deputy minister of Communications Nova Scotia. "Our staff took a topic that's challenging to convey and helped make it understandable."