West Virginians have lower life expectancies than the rest of the country, and southern West Virginians have some of the lowest life expectancies in the country, particularly for women, according to Early Deaths, a report released today by West Virginians for Affordable Health Care (WVAHC).

If you include both men and women, only four counties in the state have life expectancy above the national average. If you look at only women, no county in West Virginia is above the national average. Of more than 3,100 counties across the United States, McDowell County women have the 10th lowest life expectancy in the US," according to Perry Bryant, Executive Director of WVAHC. Women in McDowell had the 15th shortest lives and Logan County women had the 16th lowest life expectancy according to the report, Early Deaths.

Perhaps most alarming is the fact that life expectancy is actually declining, again particularly for women," stated Bryant. In Logan County life expectancy for women dropped by more than 2 ½ years in a ten year period, 1989 to 1999. Women in Boone County experienced a 2 ¼ decline in life expectancy, and the women in McDowell, Lincoln and Wyoming counties all experienced almost a two year decline in life expectancy, according to Bryant.

"The dream that we will live longer than our parents, and that our children will have longer, more productive lives than our own is being threatened. Unless we take immediate it is a real possibility that our children will have shorter lives than our own," stated Bryant.

The short life expectancy of West Virginians, particularly women in southern West Virginia is a moral stain on our state and demands action," stated the Reverend Dennis Sparks, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches.

The Council is committed to finding the resources necessary to improve the health status of those in southern West Virginia so that they can enjoy lives that are as long as other Americans. This issue will not be solved overnight, and it will take the active involvement of all churches, the Governor, the legislature, coalfield residents, and our schools. Everyone must be involved to decrease obesity, reduce and prevent tobacco usage, ensure that everyone in southern West Virginia has access to safe drinking water and every town has proper sewage treatment facilities," stated Sparks.

Here are links to several news articles on the report:

The Charleston Gazette

The Register-Herald

AP (via timeswv.com)