Health Planning Council in the News

Baptist studies New Town area's chronic health issues

Jacksonville Business Journal - by Kimberly Morrison Staff Writer

Just northwest of Downtown is a 90-block area with disease so rampant and death tallies so high that even health officials are baffled.

More people die in the neighborhood of New Town from heart disease, HIV/AIDs and homicide than anywhere in the city. Death from cancer and diabetes are the second-highest in Jacksonville. Its residents are the least educated population in the city, and have the highest rates of STDs, diabetes and teen birth.

Community and health officials say environment and socioeconomic status can only explain so much, and mostly, they don't know why the New Town area is plagued with such extensive health disparities.  Read More...