Marion County health stats
• Obesity rate, 32.3 percent (state rate is 35.1 percent)
• Physically inactive, 39.7 percent (34.8 percent statewide)
• Smokers, 25 percent (24.1 percent statewide)
Mississippi Department of Health, 2011 through 2015 self-reported statistics
Creating a healthy community in Columbia could help the local economy and more, according to officials at a recent forum.
But how do you do that?
Ashley Skipper of the Mississippi State Department of Health said simply changing an individual’s knowledge — educating them through health fairs and flyers — is not enough. Rather, they need to be put in an environment conducive to healthy choices so they’re able to make them.
Factors, according to Skipper, include:
• Access to recreation and open space, which encourages physical activities.
• Access to healthy foods “whether it is a farmer’s market, a community garden or just making sure there are stores where they have access to those healthy fruits and vegetable options,” Skipper said.
• Access to medical service, including specialists.
• Access to public transit and transportation, including streets with sidewalks.
• Affordable, quality housing. “Crowdedness can also cause stress on a family,” Skipper said. “Affordability is a big concern. When the rent is more than their income is, it can lead to stress and health issues.”
• Access to economic opportunity. “If they have jobs, people are able to afford different options including those non-housing essentials such as healthcare,” she said.
She is one of the officials from several organizations — including the city of Columbia, Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative – that met recently at the Columbia Expo Center.
Columbia Mayor Justin McKenzie spoke during the forum, which was attended by about two dozen people.
“We’re trying to find out what is working well for our community and what is not,” McKenzie said. “This is about sharing and exchanging ideas. We’re looking at what we can do to make Columbia a healthier city and a more vibrant city.”
Skipper brought several specialists from the Health Department, including from the Tobacco Free Coalition. She said the health model came from the Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, which was represented at the event by Kenneth Judy.
Skipper also discussed the Mayoral Health Councils, an initiative developed by the Office of Preventative Health within the Health Department. She said they’ve partnered with more than 30 mayors across the state and are looking to add more.
“The purpose is to mobilize community members in an effort to change healthy outcomes as well as create a healthy environment,” she said. “This will program will increase access to physical activity, access to healthy food options, reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and increase the quality of healthcare in those communities. Thy key there is to engage the stakeholders. We’re here to start the conversation about what your community looks like. What can we do to creative a more successful community? What can we do to make it a healthier community for everyone in Columbia?”
Pictured Above: Ashley Skipper from the Mississippi State Department of Health speaks about making Columbia healthier. | Photo by Mark Rogers
