Health is one of those issues that many people would just as soon not deal with — until, of course, they absolutely have to.

We go to the doctor when we’re sick rather than when we’re healthy. But the opposite approach will be needed as the health care needs of a baby boom generation expand exponentially in the next few years. An ounce of prevention will be worth 10,000 pounds of cure.

The Envision 2020 group working to address a number of regional Mankato issues has a plan that emphasizes prevention. It’s the right direction.

A health and human services subgroup of the Envision 2020 participants has focused in on three priority issues for the region: Prevention and wellness promotion; aging population; and access to health care.

The group’s final rough draft plan reasons that because a majority of Americans don’t follow a healthy lifestyle and because obesity, diabetes and other chronic illnesses are on the rise, the action plan for a community response must focus on promoting healthy lifestyles at the community level.

The groups suggests convening a summit with businesses, youth groups, churches, service groups and public entities such as the school system that promotes “nutritious diets and increased fitness.”

Other action plans would be to seek legislative initiatives that require insurance to cover nutrition education, encourage restaurants to provide better nutritional information and develop other nutrition and diet education programs through corporate and other sponsors.

Solid ideas, without a doubt. In fact, the restaurant participation actually was implemented in Mankato about 20 years ago with the Heart Healthy campaign. It was a program that eventually garnered national recognition as local restaurants put a heart symbol next to menu items that were good for heart health. The program was a resounding success.

And the cost of nutrition education should not be terribly exorbitant for anyone. The resources are existing. Public health agencies, government, schools, universities and even nonprofits like the YMCA have information resources that address a healthy diet.

The health and human services group also has set a goal of reducing the number of Mankato area residents who smoke. They suggest action plans that include supporting non-smoking facilities in North Mankato (Mankato implemented a bar smoking ban in July) and supporting state initiatives for a statewide ban. The group also suggests looking at legal ramifications for businesses who sell to minors and minors who smoke.

These kind of initiatives might seem a little harsh, but then again, smoking related illnesses are some of the most costly to the health care system.

The health and human services group of the Envision 2020 has a big agenda. The group has offered a plan on access to dental care, mental health services and affordable traditional health care. The issues will be some of the most important. Already, health care costs are driving state and national budgets, and that affects taxes and the availability of funds for roads, the environment and a number of other needs.

The Envision 2020 plan takes aim at improving things at the grass roots level. People will have to take responsibility for their own health care before they ask the government to.

It’s important we address many of these issues sooner than later. While it’s always tough to find money for new programs, we can’t afford to scrimp on funding prevention. Let’s hope we don’t have to go to the emergency room when health care costs threaten our economy.