Greensburg, IN — Sean Durbin with the Decatur County Health Department appeared before Greensburg City Council Tuesday night to provide information and garner support for a state grant related to local public health needs.
Durbin told council Indiana ranks 45th out of 50 states when it comes to public health.
The state also has low per capita public health funding.
Durbin says this is related to Senate Bill 4, which is an offshoot of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Public Health Commission.
SB 4 is co-authored by Southeastern Indiana state senators Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) and Chip Perfect (R-Lawrenceburg).
“The Governor put together a plan with a lot of different and very specific initiatives to try and improve public health in Indiana and thus in Decatur County and Greensburg,” Durbin said. “I wanted to come to the council tonight and let them where it stood, ask for their help in maybe planning for the local health department.”
He added public health improvements would benefit Greensburg and Decatur County in several ways, including lowering skyrocketing healthcare costs.
“A dollar spent on public health returns eight dollars on your investment. It’s a return on investment of one to eight. It’s a great way to spend this money that will help improve both our economic development and our citizens’ health,” Durbin said.
