The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are offering a variety of health education programs suitable for schools, employers, and local organizations. With public health focusing more on prevention, these programs aim to tackle issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. RaeAnn Tucker, Director of Health Promotion, highlights the importance of educating communities, noting that while a significant portion of healthcare funds target treatment, only a small fraction is dedicated to prevention. Topics range from heart health and cancer prevention to anti-vaping and nutrition.
RaeAnn Tucker, Health Department Director of Health Promotion said, “Today, seven in 10 deaths in the US are related to preventable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Another striking fact is that 75 percent of our health care dollars are spent treating such diseases. However, only 3 percent of our health care dollars go toward prevention.”
Tucker adds, “That’s why health education is so vital to our communities’ future health. Many people do not realize that the Health Department is available to area employers, school districts, and residents planning a program for a local class, club, staff or organization.”
To schedule a presentation or for more information on the Department Health Education services, call 309-852-0197, visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com, or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments, on Instagram, and on Twitter.