Air and water quality. Substance abuse. Access to health care. Obesity.

Those were just a few of what Allegheny County residents identified this year as major concerns during a first-ever series of community health meetings.

The county health department organized the sessions as an effort to distribute information on the current health of the county and ask the public what it considers to be top health issues.

It is critical for us to literally be in the communities and understand whats going on there, said Karen Hacker, health department director.

The county organized meetings by council district and will cap off the series Monday with a final one conducted entirely in Spanish.

During each meeting, health department personnel presented existing data, then allowed time for residents to share their own observations, which will be used to complete a community health assessment. A total of 445 people attended the 13 meetings, Dr. Hacker said.

Issues raised at the District 12 meeting Nov. 12 at Brashear High School in Beechview were wide-ranging, some long term and others more acute. A health department employee marked every concern and recommendation on large sheets of paper.

One man spoke of recognizing the support that people need just to get access to health care. He mentioned his neighbor, a single father who needs a bypass operation that will keep him hospitalized for a significant period of time.

Its been months of him feeling like if he doesnt get it, his kids could be left without a dad, but if he does get it, whats he supposed to do with his kids?

Alison Keating, a 34-year-old emergency medical technician from Manchester, said she missed the meeting in her own district and came to Brashear to express concern about the varying cost and response times of emergency medical services.

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Community health meetings wrap up Monday