PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County’s Health Board meets twice a year in May and October to discuss community health issues and how the county can best support residents. At the Oct. 28 meeting, Public Health Officer Dr. Mifa Teneza-Mora focused on heart disease, diabetes and cancer within the county. The best options for these diseases lie in outreach opportunities, highlighting prevention and providing resources to manage them.
In her presentation, Dr. Teneza-Mora outlined the challenges when battling each disease and the disparities in socioeconomic status of those afflicted, suggesting that more outreach be directed to those with a higher probability of facing each disease.
Cancer and heart disease in particular are two of the leading causes of death both in Maryland and in Calvert County; in 2023, 217 cancer deaths and 195 heart disease deaths were reported in Calvert County.
In both cancer and heart disease, outcomes are better when disease is predicted earlier. Dr. Teneza-Mora highlighted the success of colon cancer screening programs, where 50% of patients screened had cancerous polyps removed, therefore preventing disease. For heart disease, social factors like tobacco smoking can greatly increase risk and may not be detected at regular appointments.
Going forward, the county hopes to expand community-wide campaigns to address the key risk factors such as high blood pressure, tobacco use and obesity that contribute to cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, they aim to expand access to cancer education and screening programs—especially for cancers with high incidence rates in the county—and collaborate with community partners to address social determinants of health, including access to nutritious food and transportation.
These goals match others that have been established by the Board of Health this year, as they’ve sought to expand outreach efforts regarding cannabis use, opioids and more. Dr. Teneza-Mora said that in light of possible federal funding decreases, her team was looking into national, state and local foundations to help continue funding the programs.
“We have the unique opportunity to continue this work through engagements, relationship building and transparent communication with the public,” Dr. Teneza-Mora said.
You can follow the Health Department on the Calvert County Facebook page for updates about programs and services.
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