West Virginia has long been ranked as one of the least healthy states to live in. The reasons are plentiful, starting with demographic challenges. Nearly one in five West Virginians lives in poverty, and the Mountain State's population is the oldest of any in the country, bringing challenges of chronic, age-related illness. What’s more, rural residents face unique barriers to quality health care access, and West Virginia is among the most rural places in the U.S.
In this series for West Virginia’s flagship public broadcaster, a team of dedicated health reporters goes beyond grim statistics to explain the health hurdles faced by many West Virginians, and to show the resourcefulness and strength that many bring to the task. Individual stories focus on the new face of Black Lung Disease, a cultural and legal battle over childhood vaccination, and a remarkable effort to rein in the state’s long-running HIV outbreak.
This series is reported by Caleb Hellerman, of the Global Health Reporting Center, and Emily Rice, of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
