Council Member Wala Blegay (District 6), Chair of the Board of Health, will hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 4 in support of her ‘Food as Medicine Health Program Act.’ It will begin at 9:30 AM in the Tech Lounge on the first floor of the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building, 1301 McCormick Drive, Largo, MD 20774. During the County Council meeting that follows, the Council will hold a public hearing and final vote on the bill, CB-67-2025.
The bill proposes a new countywide initiative that will use food-based interventions as part of a comprehensive health care approach to reduce chronic disease, address food insecurity, and improve long-term health outcomes for residents. The proposed legislation establishes the Food as Medicine Health Program Workgroup and calls on the Prince George’s County Health Department to partner with local health care providers, nonprofits, grocery stores, health insurers, farms, food producers, researchers, and others to increase access to high-quality healthy foods for residents while improving education and awareness surrounding nutrition and long-term health.
The 21-member workgroup would be chaired by Council Member Blegay and include health care experts, nutritionists, food producers, and government representatives. The group would meet monthly and advise the County Council and County Executive on best practices for a healthier county, in addition to producing an annual report.
“What we eat matters, and it is critical to our long-term health that we prevent illnesses, not just treat them. It all starts with healthy eating,” said Council Member Blegay. “This countywide program and workgroup will be dedicated to better educating our residents and connecting them with the healthy resources we all need to live long, healthy lives.”