Wednesday, September 19, 2012

2012 Virginia Rural Health Action Conference


"You might be rural if." It sounds like the set-up for a joke that's likely to elicit a few groans. But the public health issues facing rural Virginia are no joke. The 2012 Virginia Health Equity Report estimates that the total costs of health disparities/inequities associated with living in a rural area instead of an urban area in Virginia cost $692 million annually.

Rural Virginians tend to die at an earlier age than non-rural residents. Some areas have an average life span up to 19 years below the state average, 59.6 years compared to 78.5 years. Rural areas also tend to have higher poverty rates and lower educational levels than urban Virginia, correlating to having limited health opportunities.

With these facts in mind, the Virginia Public Health Association and the Virginia Rural Health Association are joining together to offer the 2012 Virginia Rural Health Action Conference on October 8 and 9 at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Public health practitioners, concerned citizens, planners, policy makers, advocates and anyone with an interest in the health of rural Virginia will come together to explore the wide-variety of issues having an impact on the public health of rural Virginians and work to develop creative cross-sector solutions that can be incorporated into an updated State Rural Health Plan.

We want participation from everyone with a stake in the health of rural Virginia. Your input in the Virginia Rural Health Action Conference is highly valued and will help identify the priority items for the new Rural Health Plan.

Advance registration is required.

Registration fees are $160 for VAPHA and VRHA members, $210 for
Nonmembers, and $90 for Students. Fees will increase after September
28th. Fees support program costs and administration.


For complete details, visit the VAPHA web site at www.vapha.org.

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