With more than 2,400 staff members, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is the country’s leading public health institute. It works to prevent chronic and infectious diseases, build health capacity in terms of research and training, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, and minimize avoidable injuries.

PHAC’s main goals for 2009 are to increase awareness of the factors that underlie health and well-being, reduce incidence of infectious diseases, improve Canada’s ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, and strengthen its surveillance and public health capacity.

Recent PHAC campaigns aimed to promote good health practices include implementing the healthy pregnancy initiative, partnering with the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities Guide, and updating Canada’s Physical Activity Guides with versions for children, youth, adults, and seniors.

The agency is also working to make significant improvements in Canada’s emergency preparedness for pandemic influenza, infectious disease outbreaks, and foodborne illness.

See the NPHI Case Study on the Public Health Agency of Canada.