Public health experts and advocates appearing on WFIU’s Noon Edition said they're encouraged by Governor Eric Holcomb’s public health initiative.
Monroe County Commissioner Penny Githens said current funding makes it challenging for local health departments to combat things like disease outbreaks, obesity, smoking, and mental illness.
“Counties play a big role in funding their public health and there are some counties that spend $1.25 per person per year on public health,” Githens said.
LISTEN TO: Where Hoosiers stand on public health
According to a report from the governor’s public health commission, local public health funding ranges from $1.25 to $83 per person depending on which county you live in.
IU Health South Central Region Community Health Director Amy Meek said the state currently funds public health at $55 per capita, which ranks 45 th in the nation. Holcomb’s initiative would raise Indiana in the rankings.
“You never would think that it would take so much work and so much of a push just to be average,” Meek said. “And whoever wanted to strive for that. But even that is going to make a huge difference in our public health infrastructure.”
Holcomb’s public health initiative involves creating new resources such as trails to help encourage Hoosiers to exercise and more access to mental health facilities.
