The Iowa Department of Public Health has just released a tracking tool that is geared to help improve the health of citizens in the state.

The tool, called Iowa Public Health Tracking, is a state-of-the-art, web-based environmental and public health tracking program that provides Iowa residents with data on such things as cancer rates, air pollution and drinking water contaminants at the statewide and county levels.

Guthrie County Public Health Nurse Administrator Lisa Chiodo says the tool is part of a national tracking operation funded by the CDC, and she believes it could be incredibly beneficial for the health of the state.

“The purpose of having this data is so that policymakers, and local public health officials and healthcare providers can have that information in front of them to be able to make decisions possibly regarding policies and different kinds of treatment options for the communities so that we can have healthier communities in Iowa.”

Choido says the tool was launched on August 28th, and she encourages local residents in Guthrie County to take a look at what it has to offer.

“We may not prevent completely, all the asthmatics and that type of thing, but just knowing and having some more information and education, you might be able to decrease the number of cases in your county.  Just having that increased awareness of the different disease types will help people make better decisions.”

For more information about the new Iowa Public Health Tracking tool, visit www.idph.state.ia.us.