CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Linn County Public Health’s annual report chronicles the group’s efforts to serve its roughly 230,000 people from the last fiscal year. The document also provides valuable data, preparing the organization to plan for the future.
Linn County Public Health director, Dr. Pramod Dwivedi, says a big part of their plan is getting more information into people’s hands. That information can help answer why people in certain areas could have things like a lower life expectancy or higher likelihood to get a cancer diagnosis.
”Factors and health equity is going to be the nucleus of our work,” Dwivedi said.
That includes researching social determinants of health which is the study of how factors like race or economical status can affect a person’s health. They’re also researching air and water quality along with people’s access to public transportation.
“Those who are on the margins of society, we need to make sure that they are not left behind,” Dwivedi said.
Most of this data is to be compiled into an expansive series of digital maps people can access for free.
The agency says with more information and data, the better it can help with prevention. Those prevention efforts could include teaming up with local groups.
That would be helping with housing and making neighborhoods are accessible with proper, safe sidewalks and access to public transportation.
Local cancer research is also a focus in this push. According to the Iowa Cancer Registry Iowa continues to be one of the worst states for cancer rates.
Linn County health is also looking to boost education when it comes to vaccines and safety.
“We are not going to inject poison or an unhealthy element in them,” Dwivedi said. “Especially in this political and social environment where people are a little bit hesitant about it, we want to make sure that these vaccines are saving lives.”
They’re also actively assessing the need for more naloxone vending machines. Since seven of these machines were installed in the spring, roughly 1,400 doses have been taken.
Linn County Public Health already has a wide breadth of information on its website.
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