Kids' health

Around Southeast Missouri, medical professionals far too frequently see children who lack adequate nutrition, suffer abuse or don't have the proper health care they need.

All those factors are among the criteria used in the annual Kids Count report, a compilation of county-by-county data released by the Citizens for Missouri's Children.

According to the 2004 Kids Count report, which is based on data from the 2003, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Scott counties all fell in their rankings.

Cape Girardeau County health officials use the data as a basis for grants and research.

In Bollinger County, the health department saw improvements in some areas, but the county still fared poorly in high school dropouts and infant mortality.

It's good to know that this isn't a report that just sits on a shelf. It is filled with information that's put to use by agencies that can make a difference.

Many of the problems discovered through the report aren't new to health-care workers. These professionals have been trying for a long time to educate new parents and teen mothers about nutrition and proper health care. It's not always easy. Yet there are programs in place to help teen mothers with their health care and a federal program that offers nutritious food.

Health-care officials in the region say the Kids Count reports show where they've made improvements and pinpoint areas that need more work.

That's good to know.