Philip Salata

The closure of El Centro's maternity ward strains Imperial County's lone hospital, forcing many to seek care far away, highlighting rural healthcare challenges and urgent need for more resources.

Asthma has plagued Imperial County for decades, yet access to specialists continues to be scant. Uncontrolled asthma in the valley lands local youth in emergency rooms, more than anywhere else in the state.

As record-breaking temperatures melt California this summer, medical professionals are sounding the alarm about the added risks extreme heat poses to people with diabetes. But one bakery in Imperial County has some solutions.

In Califorina's Imperial Valley, Elsa Ordona’s sugar-free bakery helps locals manage the disease with tasty, low-carb treats, while promoting education and small lifestyle changes.

Imperial Valley's high diabetes rates and extreme heat, worsened by poverty and limited healthcare, pose severe health risks. More resources and education are crucial to address the crisis.