Based on my the CDC report on my community (Downtown Newport News, VA), the primary health problems and issues in my community are cardiovascular problems such as death due to coronary heart disease and stroke. In addition, the morbidity rates of gonorrhoea in my community are very high as well (CDC, n.d.).
According to the US Census Bureau Website (n.d.), there is an estimated total 182,385 people living in the community as of July 1, 2015. There are more people under the age of 18-65 living in the place, compared to the ones below 18 years old (23.5%) or the ones above 65 years old (11.6%) as of 2014. In addition, there are more females than males, and white people comprise nearly half of the population. The deaths due to coronary heart disease amounted to 136.7 per 100,000 people, while the stroke death rate in the community reached 51.7 per 100,000 people. Furthermore, the morbidity death rate for gonorrhoea is 259.4 per 100,000.
Based from these statistics, it can be inferred that the health care requirements of the community are promotion of healthy living so as to reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases, and dissemination of knowledge about sexual health, so as to prevent or at least the transmission of sexually-transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea. In order to assist with these programs, I can volunteer to participate in projects and programs that aims to promote knowledge about topics about healthy living and sexual health. In addition, I can set an example for my fellow community members about the benefits of healthy living. I can also spread awareness about the dangers of not using protection when doing sexual acts. In this way, I can improve the health status of my community in little ways.
References
CDC. (n.d.). “County Demographics: Newport News County, VA”. CDC. Retrieved from http://wwwn.cdc.gov/CommunityHealth/profile/currentprofile/VA/Newport%20News/
“Quickfacts: Newport news city, Virginia (County)” (n.d.). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/51700
