KBIA Local
(2010-03-18)
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
More than 70% of Americans die every year because of preventable illness or disease. With state and federal record low deficits, the importance of funding public health and prevention seems to be overlooked. Because only 3% of the federal budget goes to public health, preventable illness, disease, and death continue to be on the rise. Missourians are getting shortchanged as far as public health care is concerned, according to the newly released Trust For America's Health Study. The study states that the national average for state spending is $28.92. Missouri spends $9.28 per person for public health and prevention services, placing it second to last in state spending. Executive director of state and territorial health official Paul Jarris says this lack of recognition for public health will only make Americans worse off.
"If public health is not made a priority, what we are going to see is continued disease, continued illness, a continued raising of obesity, continued raising of diabetes and therefore we'll have sicker and sicker people and we'll have to have more and more medical care but we'll just be chasing our tails."
Public health and prevention is different from health care, in that it focuses on the entire population, including factors that would keep the population from being healthy. For example, public health funds are used for vaccination programs, tracking health problems, and working with public policy, all in an effort to create a healthier population. Jarris says Americans need to see the importance of prevention, rather than just treatment.
"So one of the things we have to do is to recognize that we as a country have got to deal with those issues that are causing obesity, causing illness, causing asthma and lung disease. We are happy to focus on heart disease and stroke. But what we don't do is recognize the things causing that. The nutrition, the fitness, the smoking, things like that. Rather, we are more comfortable as a country trying to fix the problem rather then preventing it. And that mind shift has got to happen."
In Missouri, the lack of funding is obvious. More than 24% of Missouri adults smoke, compared to 20% of adults nationally. 28% of Missouri adults are obese and more then 8% of adults have diabetes. Public health and prevention funding works on tobacco prevention & cessation initiatives, educating and helping people to eat healthier and exercise more to avoid obesity and diabetes.
The Missouri Foundation For Health is an organization that was created out of a settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield to improve the lives of Missourians by funding programs to help un-insured, under-insured, and under-served Missourians. The MFFH's public policy analyst Thomas McAuliffe says the MFFH is working hard to help make Missourians healthier.
"We're committed to programs, not individuals, to programs that improve the lives of Missourians. Most notably the factors related to what it means to live a long life and live a good life."
Both Jarris and McAuliffe agree an increase in funding is necessary for Missourians to lead healthier lives. © Copyright 2012, KBIA
