This Commentary is written by Jack Bernard and Dr. William Elsea The following statistic shocked us, even as jaded as we may be: The U.S. 2014 infant mortality rate was 70 percent higher than that of other wealthy nations, all of which have national health care. It also indicated that American children had a 57 percent…
Kids love school recess: Kicking a soccer ball, clambering up a jungle gym, chasing each other on a playground. And such unstructured play is not just fun, researchers say. Recess can help improve academic performance and reduce fidgety behavior and negative conduct in the classroom, health experts say. Thirty minutes of recess may become the…
Once again, Forsyth County ranks as the healthiest county in Georgia. And the next four healthiest — Oconee, Cherokee, Fayette and Gwinnett — are the same as last year’s, in the newly released 2019 County Health Rankings. All five counties are suburban and in the northern half of the state. They are followed by Columbia,…
I am writing to applaud the Georgia House of Representatives for taking a step last week toward better health for Georgians, as members voted in favor of HB 287, the Preceptor Tax Incentive Program (PTIP). I am really hoping that the Georgia Senate will follow suit during this legislative session, beginning with the upcoming hearing…
Water leaks and sewage overflows. Rampant mold. Rat infestation. Residents’ descriptions of such conditions in some Cobb County apartment complexes recently underscored the breadth of environmental hazards that tenants can face. In Georgia, renters have the right to complain about unlivable conditions, and landlords have a legal duty to make necessary repairs. But advocates for tenants say…
Twenty years ago, a bill arrived in the Georgia House that would have set up a private insurance program for children newly eligible for government coverage. The legislation had the backing of Gov. Zell Miller, and it had passed the Senate. Consumer advocate Linda Lowe and others, though, started talking with a member of the…
Once again, an annual tobacco control report gives Georgia failing grades for its anti-smoking efforts. The American Lung Association’s national report, released Wednesday, called on Georgia to increase its tax on a pack of cigarettes. At 37 cents, the levy is among the lowest in the country. “Tobacco use is a serious addiction, and we…
Asthma attacks used to send Aaron Johnson to the emergency room with frightening frequency. But now the Atlanta kindergartner has gone months without an ER visit. His mother credits the van that comes once a month to his school, Usher-Collier Elementary in west Atlanta. Aaron gets regular check-ups from the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta medical…
Public Health officials said Tuesday that they’re concerned about flu trends in Georgia. It’s not clear whether the flu season could be as severe as last year’s, state epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek told the board of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “It’s too early to know,’’ she said, adding, “Some trends to date seem concerning.”…
The most recent CDC national data showed Georgia had the highest level of flu activity in the United States. The state’s level of influenza-like illness was reported as “High’’ in the report of the week ending Dec. 8. That was the most activity for any state, according to the agency’s map. There have been four flu-associated deaths…