UofL nursing scholar helping to raise healthful food stuff accessibility in Perry County

Paige Newquist, a UofL College of Nursing graduate university student, is on a mission to enhance accessibility to healthy food items in Perry County, Kentucky.

Newquist and Nikki Enlow, a graphic style and design pupil at Hazard Neighborhood University, have launched a public wellbeing details marketing campaign as portion of the Healthiest Towns & Counties Obstacle. The task is overseen by UofL Professor Frances Hardin-Fanning and is sponsored by Aetna Foundation, the American Community Overall health Affiliation and the Nationwide Association of Counties.

Newquist, a exploration scholar, also operates at UofL Healthcare facility as a bodily therapy technician and has been an active member of the UofL COVID vaccination staff. She will graduate in May possibly 2022 with programs to do the job in orthopedic nursing in Louisville. She uses her skills from her undergraduate analysis programs to evaluate scientific proof about the overall health affect of foods, which is guiding her get the job done with the Perry County plan.

As component of the educational marketing campaign, Newquist shares spotlight information on diverse fruits and greens each and every week on the Perry County Fb page for example, “Garlic can be designed into an extract and it has been powerful in decreasing blood strain in people with uncontrolled hypertension … Garlic can help strengthen our artery’s versatility, which outcomes in decreased blood pressure, enhanced coronary heart overall health, enhanced cardio exercise and a lessened danger for cardiovascular disorder.”

The Healthiest Cities & Counties Obstacle is a grant-funded task aimed at growing accessibility to foods that aid wholesome consuming patterns. Perry County, found in Japanese Kentucky, has an adult being overweight charge of 47% – 12 share details increased than the 35% ordinary for Kentucky. Seventy-4 % of grownups who live in Perry County are overweight, and just 10% get their recommended fruit and vegetable intake. The Aetna Foundation issued the grant to Perry County in July 2020.

UofL’s College of Nursing also leads the Food stuff & Religion Coalition, a partnership with either other businesses. In addition to growing access, the coalition aims to increase food items protection screenings, mature retailers’ donations to nonprofit food items plans and enhance the interconnected function of 16 county corporations that present foodstuff to local community associates.

Study far more about Newquist’s operate with this undertaking on the UofL College of Nursing site listed here.