Residents asked to list health concerns at Oct. 2 open forum

Posted 9/11/14

When asked, Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) officials identity obesity and the overdose use of prescription drugs as major state health concerns.

But would those be the answers of …

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Residents asked to list health concerns at Oct. 2 open forum

Posted

When asked, Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) officials identity obesity and the overdose use of prescription drugs as major state health concerns.

But would those be the answers of Warwick residents?

The department aims to find out on Thursday, Oct. 2, when it conducts a health forum open to all. The forum, that includes a light dinner, will start at 6 and run to 8 p.m. at the Pilgrim Senior Center.

“We want to hear what’s important,” said Magaly Angeloni, a doctor of public health for the Department.

In an effort to get a cross-section of the community, Angeloni has reached out to the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce to make contact with neighborhood associations, church groups and other organizations to ask to the session.

The Department has also been working with Warwick’s wellness nurse, Patricia Seltzer, RN, who says she’s excited that the state wants to learn what Warwick residents consider key health issues.

She has some idea of what they might hear, including concerns over the availability of services and the fact many people are paying more for health services, in spite of the Affordable Health Care Act. And she said there is confusion over the act.

“It is still so new that we don’t know what the impact is going to be,” she said.

Apart from the cost of health care, Seltzer sees “food insecurity” as an issue. She says food insecurity contributes to obesity because people fail to eat foods that provide the proper nutrition and opt for less expensive high calorie food.

Don’t fear; the Department has taken into consideration a healthy “light dinner” for Oct. 2, said Angeloni. She said a salad would be served, along with sandwiches. The dinner is being provided courtesy of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

People are asked to register by calling the HEALTH Information Line at 222-5960.

Angeloni said community health forums have provided unexpected results in other communities. Issues coming out of Central Falls about a year ago included farmers markets, healthy school lunches and outreach to families about healthy foods. Educating youth about on the dangers of drug use was identified as urgent. There were calls for increased collaboration to get people healthier, another health center and job training to address poverty.

Angeloni hopes for attendance of 70. About 100 attended the largest of forums held so far.

Jeanne Gattegno, recently retired executive director of Westbay Community Action, will serve as moderator. Westbay Community Action is getting out information on the forum.

In an open letter to Warwick residents, Health Department Director Dr. Michael Fine says the department will share information about strengths and opportunities in Warwick and what to work on together.

“We’ll use what you tell us to choose what health programs and policies to put in place in Warwick and in Rhode Island over the next few years,” he said.

In addition to Central Falls, forums have been held in Woonsocket and Chariho since last October. Apart from nutrition and fitness, Angeloni said concerns over mental health “was a kind of surprise.”

Also planning to attend are representatives from the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, The Providence Plan, Lifespan, Brown University, Blue Cross and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.

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