"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.
