Health summit Monday focuses on wellness plan

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Members of the Putnam County Health Coalition and guests will begin planning for a healthier community, as they come together for a health summit on Monday, May 15, at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

The health summit has been planned by members of the County Health Coalition which formed in January 2006. The mission of the coalition is to develop a Wellness Plan that identifies, integrates and facilitates available community resources to promote healthy lifestyles for the citizens of the county.

Putnam County Extension Education and coalition representative Jackie Baumann said the state and county is facing a critical time for health.

"It is no secret that Hoosiers rank high in many areas of health concerns such as smoking, overweight, high blood pressure and diabetes," Baumann said.

Indiana has the 12th highest rate of cardiovascular deaths in the nation and ranks 12th in the nation in diabetes. Twenty-seven percent of Hoosiers have been diagnosed with high blood pressure at some time while 62 percent of Hoosiers are considered overweight or obese.

In a survey taken last year for the Greencastle Community School Corporation, 32 percent of the children were found to be at-risk for being overweight or are overweight.

During the health summit, participants will share information about programs and resources that are available and begin work on a prescription for health in the county.

Also during the morning part of the summit, Putnam County Board of Health representative Steve Walters will share the latest information on local planning for a potential pandemic. In the afternoon, Director of Indiana Department of Health Dr. Judith Monroe, will provide a follow-up from the 2005 Indiana Health and Obesity Summit and lead discussion and share the latest information from the governor's INShapeIndiana program.

The summit is being sponsored by the Indiana Department of Health, the Putnam County Hospital, the Purdue Extension Service and the Putnam County Health Department.

Those who wish to attend the summit should have a reservation. For more information about the summit, individuals should call the Putnam County Office of the Purdue Extension Service at 653-8411.

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