Healthy Fresno

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

April 19, 2007 

Contact: 

Tim Rosales-916-475-4900 
Elaine Gansz Bobo-202-835-3460
  

 

HealthyFresno Meets with Employers,
Patient and Community Groups to Tackle Chronic Disease

FRESNO, CALIF. (April 19, 2007) – HealthyFresno, a broad coalition of America’s pharmaceutical companies, local community leaders, health care providers, and employers, met today on an agenda to continue addressing the crisis of chronic disease in the Fresno area.

The roundtable, moderated by Dr. Paul Antony, chief medical officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), included HealthyFresno partners from the City of Fresno Mayor's office, the City of Clovis, the American Heart Association, League of United Latin American Citizens, Sequoia Community Health Centers and Fresno Center for New Americans, among others. HealthyFresno is a community-based chronic disease prevention initiative launched in May of 2006.

“The U.S. spends almost two trillion dollars on health care every year and most of that spending is on chronic disease.   Where other communities talk about the problem of chronic disease, Fresno chose to do something about it,” said Dr. Antony. “Today’s meeting will help us take stock of the progress HealthyFresno and its partners have made and set forth additional strategies to build on that progress.”

Partners discussed issues such as effectively leveraging partner resources, growing outreach into the community and long-term plans for the HealthyFresno initiative. A formal plan based on today’s meeting will be finalized in the weeks to come.

“Addressing the threat of chronic disease on Fresno County residents is a top priority,” said Debbie Truhett, Executive Director of the Fresno Division of the American Heart Association. “Since the launch of HealthyFresno last year, the American Heart Association has taken advantage of this excellent opportunity to work with America’s pharmaceutical companies and other partners to take steps to educate residents on improving their health and the health of their families.”

Since it began last year, HealthyFresno has held health screenings and educational activities throughout the Fresno area, including events focused on children, families, seniors and employers. HealthyFresno also has partnered with pharmacists to improve health literacy.
 
“We are confident the agenda discussed today for the upcoming year will allow HealthyFresno to continue to be a national model for communities seeking to improve the health of their residents,” said Clovis City Councilman Nathan Magsig. “We are honored to have been invited by PhRMA to participate in the leadership of this important initiative.”

“America’s pharmaceutical companies are excited to continue their work and commitment to improving the health of Fresno residents,” Dr. Antony said. “Everyone has stake in the health of this community, and by continuing to work together we can fight the horrible effects chronic diseases inflict on our communities.”

 Dozens of prominent community leaders, employers, civic groups, and health care organizations have joined the HealthyFresno program since its launch last month at the Ted C. Wills Community Center. Among them: Congressman Jim Costa, Clovis City Councilman Nathan Magsig, Fresno County Farm Bureau, the West Fresno Healthcare Coalition, Todos Unidos, LULAC, The Arthritis Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Fresno Department of Parks and Recreation.
 
Residents can join HealthyFresno for free at www.HealthyFresno.org or by calling toll free, 1-866-458-4937.