Posted on Wed, Oct. 25, 2006

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Toward a healthier S.C.

By DONNA RICHTER

Guest columnist

The Arnold School of Public Health’s new state-of-the-art research building at the University of South Carolina is more than the latest sign of a changing landscape in the capital city. The official opening of the building on Friday signals a growth in the public health capacity of our state’s flagship university and also reflects the important role of public health in the lives of South Carolinians.

Public health is not just a subject for research, teaching and training on a university campus. It is an ever-present part of our lives. The air we breathe, foods we eat, water we drink and even the roads we drive are all safer as a result of public health policies and programs.

The advancements attributed to the public health system are sizable. From vaccine administration programs for our children to enhanced services for our elderly, public health professionals are hard at work in communities large and small.

Public health addresses a spectrum of physical, mental and social factors that influence the well-being of our citizens and our communities. Given such a broad scope, the challenges in public health can be immense.

Major challenges such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke are perennial health threats that continue to be addressed. Other challenges such as environmental protection, health disparities, avian influenza and even bioterrorism are among the urgent priorities addressed by public health professionals.

Meeting such challenges is, of course, a collaborative effort. In South Carolina, the Department of Health and Environmental Control plays a lead role in promoting and protecting the health of the public and the environment. The partnership between DHEC and the Arnold School of Public Health is an excellent example of the best practice of public health, and it serves as a model for other states to follow.

Beyond the work of agencies and academia, state and federal lawmakers also play a key role in public health by acting on the recommendations of researchers and regulators to create laws designed to protect our health. The Arnold School of Public Health is a key resource for our state’s lawmakers when they make their decisions on matters relevant to public health.

As a native South Carolinian, I am proud that the Arnold School of Public Health has a proactive role in all areas of public health protection and promotion in our state. While South Carolina has much to be proud of, we also have significant challenges in regard to our citizens’ health.

A recent study showed South Carolina to have one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the country. That ranking is a result of a combination of lifestyle factors ranging from tobacco and alcohol use to poor diet and physical inactivity. Such factors have led to alarming rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes — even among our children.

It is because of such rates that researchers and practitioners from the Arnold School of Public Health are hard at work with communities across our state to design and implement programs that promote physical activity, smoking cessation and improved nutrition.

The Arnold School of Public Health also is active in helping communities address other pressing problems. We are conducting studies in cancer prevention, researching initiatives to improve health in rural areas, creating healthy aging opportunities and developing partnerships to eliminate health disparities.

Progress is being made. Advantages do exist.

South Carolina has a strong and dedicated public health system. Practitioners and researchers, along with community and agency leaders and elected officials, are making a difference. Important strides are being made in areas such as decreasing infant mortality and preventing teen pregnancy. Continuing to improve the health of South Carolinians will require us to work across state agencies, state government and academia and to involve key community partners.

Public health in this state is ultimately a product of what we as South Carolinians do together to ensure the overall conditions that will make and keep our citizens healthy.

The presence of the public health sector in our state is growing. The Arnold School of Public Health is committed to improving the health of all South Carolinians.

Dr. Richter is the dean of the Arnold School of Public Health at USC. Write to her at drichter@sc.edu.