NORWICH – The United Way is hoping to significantly extend its role in the field of health care over the next 10 years.

The United Way of America has established a goal to increase the number of healthy youth and adults by one-third by the year 2018. According to the United Way, only 34 percent of the nation’s population maintained an ideal level of health in 2005. Before 2020, the organization hopes to see this number increase to 47 percent – an ambitious goal that will lead to 29.2 million more healthy adults nationwide.

Elizabeth Monaco, executive director of the Chenango County United Way, realizes the challenges of these goals, but believes the United Way can eventually have a significant impact on local health.

“People are beginning to see health as an important focus and realize the need for health care within the community,” said Monaco.

The United Way of America plans to advocate healthy choices, healthy behavior and the extension of health care coverage in the coming years. They have highlighted five focus areas to reach their overall health goal: Healthier beginnings (making sure children maintain a healthy environment from birth), access and use of preventive and necessary health services, healthy eating and physical activity, healthy behaviors and a safe home and community.

A 2009 assessment from the Chenango United Way found that many health trends within the area are bleak. In 2008, there were high instances of oral cavity and pharynx cancer, attributed to the 29.3 percent of adults who smoke in the county. Additionally, 62 percent of adults are overweight compared to 56.7 percent in New York State and only 20.6 percent of Chenango County residents eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables compared to the state’s 25.8 percent average.