Latest News Local News Initiative to Improve Childhood Health
Initiative to Improve Childhood Health
OKLAHOMA CITY - Health professionals introduced a statewide initiative Monday to improve childhood health by increasing healthcare access and promoting public health education.
The program is titled 5320, a reference to the number of lives that could be saved each year in Oklahoma if residents met national averages for health measures.
The announcement was made at Stanley Hupfield Academy, an elementary school sponsored by Integris Health.
Hupfield, the chairman of Integris, said the effort is overdue and needs to include schools.
"We're not going to accept mediocrity in health issues. We've accepted it for too long," he said.
Officials said the plan is ready to roll out immediately.
The first part of the campaign calls attention to the Oklahoma's current poor health status. The state ranks 46th among states in overall health and has high rates of obesity, smoking and heart disease.
The second phase of the campaign, Shape Our Future, will promote public health education in grades six through eight, work to prohibit the use of electronic devices while driving for teenagers and aim to restore local rights to ban tobacco use.
Gov. Mary Fallin said Monday the state's current health rankings are unacceptable.
Fallin said her parents died early, partly because they smoked. She told the children at the event kickoff Monday that she didn't want them to experience that.
"It is so important that we teach our children at a very young age how to eat healthy, how to exercise, how to take command of their health," she said.
Matt Robison, vice president of small business and workforce development for the State Chamber of Oklahoma, said businesses in the state spend about $864 million a year on medical costs and lost productivity.
State Health Commissioner Terry Cline said the program's goals are realistic, but will take a collective effort.
"These are things we can control," he said. "These are things that we can influence."
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
