More than two dozen public health organizations, including the Council’s very own Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) Initiative, gathered together for Chronic Disease Legislative Awareness Day on Wednesday, March 23 at the NC General Assembly. We were on hand to share information and materials with state legislators about the cost of chronic disease and the need for prevention in our state. In the face of current budgetary shortfalls, the fact that chronic conditions – such as heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes, lung and kidney ailments – cost North Carolina in excess of $8.3 billion annually should be of utmost concern to our political leaders and citizens. Yet, we rank 44th in the nation when it comes to our financial investment in prevention.
Through PHW, congregations are taking matters into our own hands by caring for our bodies, the temple of God, and ultimately working to reduce the healthcare burden on our state. To learn more or to get involved, please click here.
-Willona Stallings, PHW Program Coordinator
