Ohio releases 5-year plan to prevent, reduce chronic disease

State officials this week released “Ohio’s Plan to Prevent and Reduce Chronic Disease,” which they hope will “dramatically improve” the health of Ohio residents by 2020 (Source: “Ohio aims to curb chronic diseases,” Columbus Dispatch, March 27, 2014).

The five-year plan looks at ways that community organizations, schools and universities, employers, health-care systems and the government can all contribute to combating chronic disease. Examples of approaches that could be used include adopting smoke-free policies in public housing and on university campuses; promoting walking and bicycling to schools; increasing the number of farmers markets in low-income communities; and providing physical activity programs at worksites.

 “We’re taking a very priority-driven, cross-cutting approach to how we look at chronic disease,” said Andy Wapner, chief medical officer at the Ohio Department of Health.