Pueblo Among Unhealthiest Counties In Colorado

A snapshot of Pueblo?s health is no surprise to the county?s health department.

“You just have to keep moving forward and not be disturbed by these rankings because we knew these were problems,” said Pueblo County?s chief medical officer, Dr. Chris Nevin-Woods.

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released data on more than 3,000 counties nationally and the District of Columbia this week.

?It?s a one time look at our county and it is very concerning. There is some significant red flags, but it doesn?t reflect a lot of the good work that has been going on,? said Nevin-Woods.

The study ranked Pueblo 54 out of 59 counties in Colorado.

Many factors that have drug the community down are related to health behaviors including obesity, smoking, excessive drinking and teen pregnancy and social and economic factors.

?For us to be a vibrant community and move forward, we have got to heal with poverty,? said Nevin-Woods.

Nevin-Woods said the county does have strengths. It ranks 20th in clinical care by providing high insurance coverage and ensuring diabetic and mammography screenings.

“Our healthcare system is really working extremely hard and opening its doors, but you have to walk up to those doors and access them in order to help change,” she said.

Nevin-Woods said improvement is a community-wide effort.

“Each individual has to work on their own health and family health in order to move Pueblo forward,” she said.

The county is currently working on a community health improvement plan to target its biggest challenges, obesity and teen pregnancy, over the next five years.

“It can be done. We see communities that have been successful,? said Nevin-Woods.

The study shows El Paso County ranking 30th among the healthiest in Colorado.

For more information on the study, visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.