| Press Release |
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| May 27, 2008 |
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Hunger Week: Governor Challenges Health Care Community to Learn about Health Effects of Hunger
Survey finds doctors, nurses want effective ways to discuss hunger with patients
(Salem) – Governor Kulongoski today challenged Oregon health care professionals to join in the fight against hunger by learning about the effect of hunger on child health and by implementing screening tools in the doctor’s office to identify those at risk.
The challenge is based upon findings of a survey released today that shows doctors and nurses want to learn 1) more about the health consequences of hunger, 2) how to discuss the problem with their patients and 3) effective ways to incorporate appropriate interventions into their clinical settings.
“Last year when I took the food stamp challenge, I experienced first-hand what it takes to make ends meet on a limited food budget. With the increase in food and fuel costs, it is more important than ever that we come together to reduce hunger in Oregon,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Hungry families are too often in the position of having to purchase lower quality, higher calorie, high fat foods and, as a result, hungry families often have even more health problems. I’m excited to know that hundreds of Portland-area physicians and nurses appreciate the opportunity they have to make a difference in the lives of those who are hungry.”
The survey of nearly 200 health care professionals in the Portland-metropolitan area was conducted by the Childhood Hunger Initiative. The Childhood Hunger Initiative (CHI) is a network of health care professionals, anti-hunger advocates and other interested Oregonians working together to educate the medical community, policy makers and the general public about the medical, developmental and psycho-social impacts of childhood food insecurity and hunger.
With “bonus” funding the Governor secured last year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for being one of the nation’s top five states in providing food stamps to the highest percentage of people who are eligible for food aid, CHI is using the survey results to develop an online course and learning materials entitled “Childhood Food Insecurity: Health Impacts, Screening and Intervention.” The course will be available later this year through OSU’s Extended Campus as continuing education credits for health care providers.
The Governor urged every hospital and health system, every county medical association, and every local public health department to designate at least one of their members as a local “childhood hunger expert” who would accept the Governor’s challenge. Participants who accept the challenge will agree to educate themselves and to take action in their medical practices to identify and appropriately intervene with children and families at risk of hunger and food insecurity.
Health care professionals who take the challenge will become local contacts for CHI and part of a statewide network of health care experts on the health effects of childhood hunger.
“Oregon is making progress in the fight against hunger because hundreds of thousands of individual Oregonians have become part of the hunger solution. Health care professionals are uniquely qualified to appreciate the consequences of hunger on an individual’s health. They’re also uniquely positioned to have a positive impact on the health of hungry Oregonians – especially children. I challenge every medical community throughout Oregon to designate a local “childhood hunger expert” specially committed to addressing hunger and its root causes as part of their practice.”
Hunger and food insecurity affect about one in five Oregon children, meaning that their families do not always know where their next meal is coming from. In an average month, 192,000 people eat meals from an Oregon Food Bank emergency food box. And more than 440,000 Oregonians – the majority of them children - receive food aid through the Food Stamp Program each month.
For health care professionals interesting in accepting the Governor's challenge, contact the Childhood Hunger Initiative at chi@oregonfoodbank.org.
Contacts:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
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