Education Part of Health Agency’s Job

I am writing in response to the Oct. 9 article regarding the Healthy County 2000 program we have launched at the Ventura County Health Care Agency. Your article referred to this as a “PR program.” It is, in fact, an educational program, and education is part of our mission at the Health Care Agency. Our program utilizes existing brochures and materials, combined with new educational tools, including a video and educational television program.

We are saddened that some residents in our county don’t recognize the need to provide public health information to our neighbors that desperately need this information. One-third of Ventura County residents do not have health insurance, approximately 240,000 people. If we are not able to control their tuberculosis, help them prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, or continue to monitor for diabetes, cancer and other debilitating diseases, we will face a tremendous health care crisis in this county.

Preventing disease and keeping people healthy are far more cost-effective than treating people after they become ill. At the Ventura County Health Care Agency it is our legal, moral and ethical responsibility to inform, educate, prevent and manage the diseases that can infect our residents. We are one of the most cost-effective public health care providers in California and are used as a national model. Our services total approximately $160 million in care for the year, of which the county’s share is less than 7%.

Dr. PIERRE DURAND

Director, Health Care Agency

Ventura