A community health survey has been created for Mathews County, and residents are being asked to fill it out and turn it in to the health department.

Community assessment planner Neelam Patel and community health promotion manager Lisa Laurier of the Three Rivers Health District designed the survey. They said that there is lots of health data available on the county, but none of it is based on what the residents think the actual problems are. 

That information is important for putting the data into context, said Patel, so she’s hoping residents will choose to complete the survey. She said that in order to for the survey to be statistically valid, 369 residents have to participate.

To encourage participation, Patel and Laurier plan to be on hand at various locations in Mathews on random days to assist anyone who needs help filling out the survey.

Locations include the Mathews Boys and Girls Club, Mathews Memorial Library, Mathews Family YMCA, and the health department. The...