The Healthy Carolinians group will meet Tuesday to develop an action plan that could improve the health of county residents.

Group coordinator and Scotland County Health Educator Kathie Cox invites everyone to attend the meeting, scheduled to begin at noon in the Education Classroom of the Scotland County Health Department.

"Our partnership will review the responses we received from the Community Health Assessment Survey conducted last summer, in which more than 600 respondents in the county shared what they felt were the leading health issues in Scotland County that needed to be addressed," Cox said. "We will compare this feedback with statistical data in order to decide which priority areas we need to focus on as we begin to develop action plans for the next four years."

Past responses to the community survey, distributed every four years by the health department in conjunction with Healthy Carolinians, have included obesity, chronic disease such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and nutrition as leading health issues that need to be addressed in Scotland County.

The public is welcome to attend Tuesday's event.

"This meeting would provide a great opportunity for the public to see what Healthy Carolinians is all about," Cox said. "Healthy Carolinians is a group of people who care about the community and who want to be a part of improving health outcomes in the county. We would love to have you join us."

For planning purposes, interested parties are asked to RSVP by March 8 if one does or does not plan to attend the meeting. Refreshments will be provided for participants.

Cox also reminds everyone that the next Scotland Diabetes Support Group program is scheduled

for March 16 at the W.R. Dulin Center of Scotland Memorial Hospital with a program titled "Diabetes and Wounds". Held every third Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the event features various topics and speakers on a number of subjects of relevance to those with diabetes. This month's speaker will be Paula Davis, RN and director of the Wound Healing Center at the hospital.

"These group meetings are very educational and informative," Cox said. "Please remind those you know who may need the information and offer to go with them."

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information about Healthy Carolinians contact Cox at 277-2440.