By Carolyn Cole/Staff Writer
published March 26, 2008

Health officials are asking for ideas from Canadian County residents to improve the health of low-income families and the overall health of Oklahomans.

Canadian County is one of 18 Oklahoma health departments participating in community forums to examine problems raised in the PBS series “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequity Making Us Sick” which starts at 9 p.m. Thursday on OETA.

A forum for Canadian County is being planned for late May or June, which will involve local residents, business owners and health officials, health educator Nicole Michael said.

The four-part documentary series seeks answers to questions about why the United States, commonly referred to as the leader of the free world, is ranked 30th among nations in life expectancy, even though it spends twice as much per person for health care than any other industrialized nation.

Wealth also plays a role in life expectancy in the United States — a rich American lives three years longer than a middle-class citizen and eight years longer than a poor American, studies show.

Approximately 22 percent of U.S. children live in poverty. The Unnatural Causes study shows the United States has the greatest inequality of industrialized countries and the worst health.

Those attending the forums will help examine the problem locally and suggest action that can be taken to improve the health of Oklahomans, said Marisa Wells, director of health equity and resource opportunities for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.