The Putnam County Health Council about halfway towards its goal of developing a community health improvement plan.
Health Council President Trey Upchurch said the plan is meant to bring healthcare providers, residents, and organizations together to discover the area’s biggest health challenges. Upchurch said uniting everyone behind a common vision can help find better solutions.
“We’ve gathered info from all the community members through surveys, meetings, et cetera,” Upchurch said. “And working on analyzing that feedback and prioritizing the key things that we found, some of those key issues. And once we have that, we’ll be finalizing the plan setting specific strategies before we move forward.”
Upchurch said Putnam County faces a lot of health challenges such as chronic disease and mental health struggles. He said those are some of the key issues addressed in the community plan. Upchurch said access to care is another key component.
Upchurch said lots of these issues were brought to light nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the challenges are not just local.
Upchurch said the council would like to partner with local organizations to push individual initiatives once the plan is finalized.
Upchurch said people seeking to take control of their health should try to do so with other people. He said doing so can help people stay accountable to a shared goal while improving quality of life.
“Many hands make light work, and that applies to pretty much anything,” Upchurch said. “I think anytime you have people who will support you, even in those small wins, it makes a massive difference in what you’re able to accomplish.”
Upchurch said there are lots of small things people can do to stay ahead of their health. He said proper nutrition, sleep, and physical activity are some manageable changes people can make to be healthier.
Upchurch said despite the many barriers to healthy living, the region has a lot of strengths.
“People are making, you know, a huge impact on lives within our community,” Upchurch said. “So it’s about making those positive changes a little bit at a time, and eventually, we’ll start to see some major gains.”
Upchurch said anyone who has ideas for the plan or issues that need to be addressed should to reach out to the Health Department.
