PFCD Experts Speak About Chronic Disease Crisis on Mississippi Public Radio
Discuss What Is at Stake for Residents and What Can be Done
Washington, D.C. (September 10, 2008) - This morning, Ken Thorpe, Executive Director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), and John Clymer, PFCD advisory board member and President of the Partnership for Prevention, spoke with Karen Brown, host of Mississippi Public Radio's "Mississippi Edition," about the crisis of chronic illness and its impact nationwide and on residents of Mississippi. They were joined by Therese Hanna of the Center for Mississippi Health Policy.
The show will be archived and available for listening on Sept. 11.
"Chronic illness is a serious problem across the U.S., but its affects are especially pronounced in Mississippi where we see some of the highest rates of illness and the highest percentage of obese adults and children nationwide," said Dr. Thorpe.
Chronic disease costs Mississippi $15.2 billion each year in lost productivity and treatment expenditures, according to a report issued by the Milken Institute in late 2007. If left unchecked, chronic disease could cost the Mississippi economy $64.3 billion by the year 2023.
When asked about how to improve the situation, Dr. Thorpe suggested that "The key is to start early in the schools, so that we can teach children healthy habits at an early age and point them in the right direction towards health and wellness."
About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:
The PFCD is a national coalition of more than 100 patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: poorly prevented and mismanaged chronic disease.
The PFCD's mission is to:
- Challenge policymakers - in particular, the 2008 presidential candidates - to make fighting chronic disease a top priority and discuss how they will address it in their health care proposals
- Educate the public about chronic disease and potential solutions for individuals, communities, and the nation
- Mobilize Americans to call for change in how policymakers, governments, employers, health institutions, and other entities approach chronic disease
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