DeKalb Public Health presents 'Health of DeKalb 2025', highlights disparities and staffing, funding shortfalls

Dr. V, director of DeKalb Public Health, delivered the department's new Health of DeKalb 2025 report on June 26, telling the Board of Commissioners the county faces persistent health disparities, funding constraints and workforce challenges as she prepares to leave the post in July. "We have health disparities that exist in our county. The social determinants of health play a significant role in this," Dr. V said during the Committee of the Whole presentation.

The six-year report (2018–2023) shows major cardiovascular disease as the county's leading cause of death at 189 per 100,000, followed by cancers at 132 per 100,000. The presentation mapped higher cardiovascular and hospitalization rates in specific areas of DeKalb and noted those rates are highest among Black or African American residents and males. Dr. V said external causes ranked highest among premature deaths (years of potential life lost), with homicide, accidental poisoning and motor vehicle crashes the top contributors.

The report also called attention to infectious-disease patterns and special populations. DeKalb consistently had higher rates of newly diagnosed HIV than the rest of Georgia (data through 2022),…