Belleville/May 28, 2025
The South East Health Unit (SEHU) Board of Health met today in Belleville for their regular monthly meeting. The agenda package is available online.
New operating name
The Board endorsed a recommendation by the Governance Committee to adopt Southeast Public Health (SEPH) and Santé publique du Sud-Est (SPSE) as the new operational names of the merged health unit. The name reflects the agency’s expanded region, and the initials SEPH are a nod to the southeast direction on a compass, and emphasize the commitment to the new geographic area proudly being served.
The new name won’t be used until the new brand identity (which includes the new logo) is endorsed by the Board and officially launched later this year. Until that time, members of the community will continue to see legacy branding from the three former agencies, and the South East Health Unit (SEHU) temporary branding.
Merger update
A progress update on merger activities was provided to the Board and can be reviewed in the agenda package. One area of significant work which is nearing completion is the selection of the merged agency’s brand identity, which has been developed in consultation with branding experts Scott Thornley and Company. The Board and staff are currently completing a survey that presents two options for the brand identity, which includes the inspiration behind each logo design and examples of how it may be applied. Once the voting is complete and any refinements to the design are made, the new brand identity will be publicly unveiled later this year.
Innovation and revenue generation
Dr. Hugh Guan, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Knowledge Management, provided the Board with information about revenue-generating activities. He explained that revenue is generated through external contracts and partnerships that advance the work of public health. For example, SEHU provides professional services consultancy, such as epidemiologic support to other health units; data science and surveillance products like dashboarding; and participates in grant-funded research projects, such as the syphilis point-of-care study. In 2024-2025, initiatives within the portfolio, in conjunction with various program teams, led to approximately $500,000 to $800,000 in direct cost-recovery to SEHU or more than $1.2 million in funding to wider public health sphere activities.
SPRITE in Action: Advancing Syphilis Testing and Treatment through Community Engagement
Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Public Health Nurse Stephanie Vance provided an update on the Syphilis Point-of-Care Rapid Testing and Immediate Treatment Evaluation (SPRITE) study, which addresses the alarming rise in syphilis rates in Ontario. The SPRITE study, which started in June 2023, has provided the opportunity to implement HIV/syphilis point-of-care (rapid) tests to individuals experiencing barriers to health care throughout the region, allowing for reduced time to treatment.
The province-wide initiative enables public health nurses to screen and immediately treat people for syphilis during public health outreach activities, including pop-up testing events, visits to congregate settings, and community service hubs (e.g., consumption treatment sites, food banks, social services, mental health and addictions), walk-abouts in the community to encampments or other sites, in addition to regular clinic visits.
The findings show that the rapid test-and-treat nursing outreach model helps to improve health-care access for underserved populations, identifies and treats new infections and reinfections, promotes open discussion and furthers engagement with underserved communities.
This study is a significant advancement in public health efforts to combat syphilis in Ontario, and is providing valuable insights which will inform future practices and policies. The SPRITE study will continue until fall 2025, and efforts are being made to secure funding for an extension and expansion of the project.
Measles update
Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, provided an update on the pan-Canadian measles outbreak which, as of May 15, 2025, has resulted in 1,622 cases of measles in Ontario. In the SEHU region, there have been 80 cases of measles, but there has not been a new case in the region in more than three weeks. This is positive news and means that it’s unlikely that there is ongoing community transmission in the area.
Dr. Toumishey stressed that vaccines are the best protection against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, and are safe and effective in preventing the spread of disease in our community. Of the cases of measles in the SEHU region, 78 of the infected individuals were unvaccinated.
Vaccination efforts have been ongoing across the region, and Dr. Toumishey noted that longer term efforts by the provincial government, such as the funding and implementation of a provincial immunization registry, as recommended by the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee, could further strengthen the immunization program in SEHU.
You can learn more about measles and where to get vaccinated at:
- HPE: hpePublicHealth.ca
- KFLA: kflaph.ca
- LGL: healthunit.org
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Media contact
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
