Southwestern Public Health

Southwestern Public Health Proudly serving St. Thomas, Elgin County, and Oxford County with public health programs, services, and resources to support healthy, vibrant communities. c.

Commenting Guidelines

• Stay on topic. We encourage focused, thoughtful comments and discussion which respond or relate to a topic, new initiative or upcoming event. Comments which are not related to our content or attempt to derail the conversation may be removed.

• Avoid posting personal or confidential information. Our social media accounts are publicly accessible and posts are visible to the public. Therefore, please don’t post any personal information about you or anyone else!

• Be respectful. If you choose to post content, please keep in mind that you must not:

1. Mislead us or anyone else as to your identity or the origin of the posted content, or falsely claim to represent a person, organization or entity

2. Post or transmit any message, content or link to content that:

a. is abusive, hateful, homophobic, discriminatory, malicious, aggressive, threatening, violent, sexist, harassing, inflammatory, indecent, tortious, defamatory, knowingly false, misleading, deceptive, vulgar, obscene, offensive, scandalous, sexually explicit, profane;

b. incites hatred, racism, bigotry, discrimination or physical harm of any kind against any individual or class of individuals based on a protected ground in the Ontario Human Rights Code, including: ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding) or sexual orientation. is unsolicited or unauthorized, such as unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional material, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letter," "pyramid scheme," or any other form of solicitation (commercial or otherwise);

d. is in breach of any confidence;

e. includes personal data or information about others; or

f. can result in us being liable to anyone else under any intellectual property rights law. We may not respond to posts that violate any of these rules and we may notify the social media service provider of your violation. While we may moderate posts, we are not required to, nor should you expect that we will, take action in response to any content posted on our page or feed. The views expressed by others represent their own views and are not endorsed or approved by us, nor do we endorse or approve any events or other activities posted by a user. Southwestern Public Health supports an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and respectful work environment, free of discrimination and harassment. Our social media channels are an extension of our workplace. SWPH employees moderate our social media sites and their contents. Any conduct that is discriminatory or harassing will be removed and the user may be banned from future use of our channels. We reserve the right not to keep any content that you post on our page or feed, and to remove, edit or move, at any time, any content posted which does not comply with our Commenting Guidelines.

03/24/2026

March 24 is World TB Day.
Tuberculosis (TB) is preventable and treatable, but it still affects people around the world. Knowing the symptoms and who may be at higher risk can help with early testing and treatment.
🤒Symptoms of TB can include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.
👥People at higher risk include those with weakened immune systems, close contacts of someone with TB, healthcare workers, people living or working in crowded settings, and people who have lived in or travelled to countries where TB is more common.
If you have symptoms or may have been exposed, talk to a healthcare provider about testing.

As the weather warms up, we’d like to remind you that even though wild animals may seem cute, they can pose significant ...
03/20/2026

As the weather warms up, we’d like to remind you that even though wild animals may seem cute, they can pose significant health risks.

Rabies is a fatal disease that humans can get through bites and/or scratches of infected animals (mammals). In Ontario, wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes are at risk for rabies. Sometimes pets, like dogs and cats, can also get rabies if they haven’t had their shots. Protecting yourself and your pets from rabies is important to staying safe from the deadly disease.

To learn more, visit swpublichealth.ca/rabies

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates the breaking of the month‑long fast. Before the holiday prayer, Musl...
03/19/2026

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates the breaking of the month‑long fast. Before the holiday prayer, Muslims give Zakat al-Fitr, a charitable donation to help those in need.

People greet one another with “Eid Mubarak,” wear new clothes, and often exchange gifts—children typically receive money called Eidi. The date of Eid varies each year because it depends on the sighting of the new moon in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Try this delicious alcohol-free mocktail in celebration of St. Patrick's Day! Drop a 🍀 in the comments if you have tried...
03/17/2026

Try this delicious alcohol-free mocktail in celebration of St. Patrick's Day! Drop a 🍀 in the comments if you have tried it or plan to!

⚠️COLD WEATHER ALERT⚠️Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures as low as -12˚C, feeling like -24˚C with the wind c...
03/16/2026

⚠️COLD WEATHER ALERT⚠️

Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures as low as -12˚C, feeling like -24˚C with the wind chill, across the Southwestern Public Health region. Cold conditions are expected to begin this evening and continue until the morning of Tuesday, March 17th. Conditions meeting SWPH’s cold alert threshold are also expected overnight on March 17th and into the morning of Wednesday, March 18th.

Stay safe: Protect yourself and your loved ones from the risks of frostbite and hypothermia. Those most vulnerable include the elderly, young children, outdoor workers, and anyone without proper shelter.

🔗https://www.swpublichealth.ca/news/posts/southwestern-public-health-issues-a-cold-weather-alert-beginning-march-16th/

03/16/2026

Talk to your kids about cannabis and how it can affect their health and development.

🚨Attention adults aged 55+🚨The GrandPals program is accepting volunteers to connect with students in a local school. Lea...
03/13/2026

🚨Attention adults aged 55+🚨The GrandPals program is accepting volunteers to connect with students in a local school. Learn more about this age-friendly initiative in the post below!

Calling Older Adults (55+) — Become a GrandPal! 🌟

Looking for a meaningful way to give back, share your life stories, and connect with the next generation? The GrandPals Program is back for 2026, and we’re looking for older adult volunteers to take part!

GrandPals brings older adults into the classroom to build friendships with students through conversation, storytelling, and shared learning. Last year’s program was a huge success, and this year we’re hoping to expand to even more classrooms.

What’s involved?
📚 Around 2 hours, one day per week for 8 weeks (late March to early June 2026)
🏫 At Southwold Public School
🤝 Includes training and support — no teaching experience required
📝 A vulnerable sector police check is required

If you enjoy working with children, sharing stories, and connecting with others, this could be a wonderful fit for you.

Interested or have questions?
Contact Wendy MacMillan (519-749-5062 / macmillan.wendy@gmail.com) or Meagan Lichti (519-719-0436 / mlichti@swpublichealth.ca)

Please share with friends, neighbours, and family members who may be interested!

Southwestern Public Health Elgin County Township of Southwold Municipality of Central Elgin

03/13/2026

Sláinte!🍀

Looking for an alcohol-free way to join in on the St. Patty's fun? We've got just the thing for you!

Try this refreshing kiwi mocktail.

Ingredients include:
🥝Kiwis: 2-3 ripe kiwis, peeled and diced/muddled
🍋‍🟩Citrus: 1 tbsp fresh lime juice or lemon juice
🍯Sweetener: 1-2 tsp maple syrup, honey, or simple syrup
🌿Herb: 5-8 fresh mint leaves
🥤Fizz: 4-6 oz club soda, sparkling water, or ginger ale
🧊Ice: Plenty of ice cubes

03/12/2026

Many people are celebrating St. Patrick's Day this weekend!

You don’t need a drink to enjoy the magic.

Choosing alcohol‑free means:

💚A safer night
💚Lower cancer risk
💚No next‑day hangover

Have fun and stay safe.

Last week, we shared a drug watch with community partners in Oxford County about yellow-coloured Fentanyl. This substanc...
03/11/2026

Last week, we shared a drug watch with community partners in Oxford County about yellow-coloured Fentanyl.

This substance may be in powder or pill form, and is suspected to be related to a concerning increase in reported overdoses. Learn more in the post below from our partners at Regional HIV AIDS Connection.

👉Try to not use alone and always carry a naloxone kit.

🫶Please share this information with those you love who may need it.

Warning: Yellow Fentanyl

Multiple confirmed overdose reports have been identified in the community. These overdoses are reported to be linked to yellow-coloured fentanyl.

Signs of an overdose can include:
• Person can’t be woken up
• Breathing is slow or has stopped
• Snoring or gurgling sounds
• Fingernails and lips turning blue or purple

In the community, a person can quickly become unresponsive after use and multiple doses of naloxone may be required. It is important to call 911.

Harm reduction recommendations when using substances:

• Try not to use alone. If you use alone, tell someone where you are. Ask them to check on you. The National Overdose Response Service (NORS) is available as a confidential overdose prevention hotline providing compassionate, nonjudgmental support for people who use drugs alone: 1.888.688.6677.
• Use in small doses: Start low, go slow.
• Avoid mixing substances, if possible.
• Encourage use of Carepoint (Mon-Sun: 9 AM-9 PM).
• Have naloxone ready and know how to respond to an overdose. Learn more at: Ontario.ca/Naloxone.

For more information, please contact Interm Director of Harm Reduction Services, Lily Bialis, at lbialas@hivaidsconnection.ca or 226.377.8721.

Posted March 11, 2026. Please remove this notice by March 21, 2026 as the unregulated drug supply changes constantly.

Read the advisory at: hivaidsconnection.ca/advisory

Pregnant and under 24?Get free, one‑on‑one support from a public health nurse from early pregnancy until your child turn...
03/11/2026

Pregnant and under 24?

Get free, one‑on‑one support from a public health nurse from early pregnancy until your child turns two.

You may be eligible if:

✔️ You’re having your first baby
✔️ You’re 24 or younger
✔️ You live in the SWPH region

Learn more: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/classes-clinics-and-services/pregnancy-and-baby-supports/nurse-family-partnership/

Free to eligible individuals who are pregnant with their first baby to connect with a registered nurse for pregnancy and early parenting support.

Address

1230 Talbot Street
Saint Thomas, ON
N5P1G9

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18009220096

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