Improve Health, Save the Future

In a recent college assignment, I was required to to provide 5 minutes of opening and orienting comments to a distinguished group of public policy makers in the U.S. representing local, state, regional and national levels of government.  Everyone at this meeting was very concerned about the future of health (not health care) in the United States. They are serious about finally doing something before it is too late and are less concerned about the cost of doing something now than the huge costs of doing nothing or the costs of just bumbling along the way we have been doing for far too long. Below was my presentation, kindly read and share your thoughts;

Saving our future

A presentation to public policy professionals in all tiers of governance in United States of America

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

I’m delighted to share my thoughts with you - the policy makers from all levels of governance on how we can save the future of health in our beloved country, United States of America. I believe no other time could have been more appropriate to put this issue on the front burner than now. 

United States of America is the world’s largest economy and undoubtedly one of the richest countries across the globe.¹ We also spend more money than any other country on health (care), as confirmed by recent World Health Organization and the Organization for Economic cooperation and Development reports on global health expenditure. But why has our country remained unhealthy? Why should we spend most on health and rank 4^th in Human Development Index² and 30^th among nations with highest life expectancy?³ Why are thousands of American people still dying from avoidable health-related events? The future of our health is on the edge of precipice and there is no gainsaying the fact that an expedient action is required. 

It is obvious from the foregoing that our approach to improving health has been defective. We have been spending billions of dollars on treating diseases instead of preventing them. What can be done in this circumstance? The top killer diseases in United States: coronary heart disease, lung cancer, stroke and obesity share common behavioral etiologic risk factors – tobacco smoking, lack of physical activities and unhealthy feeding habits.⁴ According to the National Health Interview Survey 2009, 21 per cent of adults smoke tobacco while 33 per cent do not engage in physical exercise. Smoking kills almost half-a-million Americans annually.⁵

Creating a healthier future for the American people requires a holistic approach, and the role of public policy makers in this regard is crucial. Governance & Leadership is the building block of health that controls the others. Effective local boards of health and public health agencies would enhance the quality, continuity and assurance of public health in the United States. It’s time to act! A healthy environment must be created in United States through healthy policies.  Policies that would build community coalitions to address tobacco use and create programs that would transform knowledge, attitude and practices by changing the way tobacco is sold, promoted and used. Smoke free work place policy would not only make smokers smoke less but make non-smokers exposed to less side stream smoke and reduce their likelihood to become smokers. Effective antismoking policy would not only save the potential smokers but also the 50,000 people that die annually from side stream smoke.⁵

More so, Public Policy is a component of the 5"P" startegies that would create and enhance the use of other 4"P"s - preparation, promotion, programs and physical projects.⁶   These strategies represent a comprehensive approach to increasing physical activity in a community. Synergistic efforts across all levels of governance in the various counties and states should make or review their policies as indicates; ensuring that public policies do the followings: establish a close and consistent link between land use and transportation plans and priorities, approve local ordinances that are consistent with land use and transportation plans and that promote active living; update road policies, standards, parking requirements and fees to improve connectivity, safety, street design and incentives for transit and active transportation; Update zoning ordinances, building codes, and approval processes to encourage compact community design and a tighter mixture of activities which make it possible to work, play, shop and go to school within walking and bicycling distance of people's homes.⁷

Furthermore, the policy should improve funding for pedestrian and cycling-oriented capital improvements and public transit as well as adopt a pedestrian charter to ensure that walking becomes an increasingly safe, comfortable and convenient mode of travel. Public policies should enhance accessibility to healthy foods, discourage media advertisement of unhealthy feeding habits and create a healthy social environment for healthy lifestyle. The media has to be regulated to reduce scenes in movies that promote unhealthy behaviors.

Nevertheless, creating a healthy environment through healthy public policies has huge political and economic implications. You must be prepared to resist tempting influence and cope with stiff resistance from the tobacco, food/beverage companies, other industries whose economic interests may be adversely affected and possibly from the people. Achieving behavioral change is a Herculean task but it’s not impossible. There are several evidences in the country where these policies have been very successful.


In conclusion, a healthy physical and social environment must be created to ensure a healthy future for the American people and no time is better to start than now. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. 


References 
1. IMF 2011 Top 20 World’s Richest Economies by GDP nominal; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2MSskRjbXs
2. UNDP Human development Reports 2011; http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/
3. http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/united-states
4. National Health Interview Survey 2010, by CDC - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/hinsure.htm
5. Tom Farley & Deborah A. Cohen. Prescription for a Healthy Nation. 282: 131-143
6. http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/our-approach/5p-strategies-tactics
7. http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/our-approach/strategies-tactics/4p-policy/tactics