| An effort spearheaded by two health-related organizations is working toward creating a healthier community for Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula areas. Called Healthy Communities of Pierce County, the project is a joined effort by the Pierce County Medical Society and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The goal is to improve public health by making changes that would lead to more physical activity and better nutrition — from improving walking trail systems to promoting more recreational activities and better nutrition.
“The idea came about because of the increase in chronic diseases related to inactivity and poor nutrition,” said Jane Moore, MD, project director. “In order to stop the increase and have a healthier population, we need to make changes to make it easier to be active and choose good foods.”
The mission is to not only encourage better physical activity and nutrition, but also to lead public health efforts to prevent and control diseases like diabetes, as well as to promote environmental solutions, policies and practices that lead to better health.
The project, led by physicians and other health care leaders, started about two years ago and is jointly sponsored by the two organizations. Medical professionals say the escalating obesity rates have brought an epidemic of diabetes, and more children are affected by the disease. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows one of three babies born in year 2000 will develop diabetes later in life.
The Healthy Communities project is based on the concept that if stakeholders are involved in the discussions and work together toward solutions, they would be more committed to working toward results. To facilitate this kind of collaboration, project leaders organized a health summit in November, bringing together about 60 local community leaders, health-care providers, policy-makers, planners, business leaders, residents, and other stakeholders. Three task forces were created to further look at specific areas: active aging and adults in the workplace; child, youth and education; and policy and environment. The task forces have been meeting since the summit, discussing new projects to meet their outlined goals.
“The summit wasn’t the long-term goal. The goal is to get people to adopt projects,” Moore said. She said if the Healthy Communities project is successful, “there are potentially enormous benefits” to a variety of organizations, including businesses who will see a decrease in absenteeism and health-related costs.
A follow-up summit will be held in March. The goal of the project is to adopt it in other parts of Pierce County.
|
