Conference explores health issues

More than 700 Iowans who want to improve the health of our citizens areattending a two-day summit that opens this morning in Des Moines. Organizersof the Governor’s Conference on Iowa’s Community Solutions for Health Caresay they have lofty goals.Dr. Mary Hansen is a nursing professor at Drake University and is directorof the Drake Center for Health Issues. Dr. Hansen says presentations willcover a wide range of topics — from nutrition to chronic disease — butthey also cover areas like juvenile crime and substance abuse.Hansen says the 700 attendees come from all across the state in a wide rangeof professions.She says the conference aims to bring together participants from all 99counties to return to their communities with new ideas and tools to enhancethe quality of life in Iowa.