Department of Health Celebrates National Public Health Week

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 04 April 2017 04 April 2017

SANTA FE, NM - Today, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced that Governor Susana Martinez has proclaimed this week, April 2 through April 8, as Public Health Week in New Mexico. National Public Health Week was created by the American Public Health Association and recognizes the men and women who champion healthy living in our communities while raising awareness of essential services they provide.

"National Public Health Week is an excellent opportunity to highlight how the contributions of public health are leading to a healthier New Mexico," said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher. "The value of public health is all around us. Local public health offices serve as a unique and essential role in the state's health system. By working to prevent chronic disease and to reduce health disparities, public health improves the quality of life for thousands of people who benefit from our essential safety net services."

The theme for National Public Health Week is "Healthiest Nation 2030", with public health agencies collaborating with individuals, healthcare providers, communities, and other partners toward a vision of creating the healthiest nation in one generation. NMDOH works towards that goal by working to promote healthy living. The Department has seen success in lowering the rates of obesity, teen pregnancy and substance abuse in New Mexico. NMDOH continues to work to increase immunization rates, lower the number of diabetes cases, and improve public health services statewide.

Here are some ways NMDOH works to keep residents healthy from the start:

  • Families FIRST offers prenatal care coordination assisting Medicaid eligible pregnant women and children 0-3 years of age to gain access to medical, social and education services that are necessary for healthy births.
  • Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is the special supplemental nutrition assistance program that identifies health and nutritional risks for mothers and their children. Enrolled parents and guardians get nutrition education and receive monthly food benefits for high nutrient foods.
  • Children's Medical Services (CMS) offers access to treatment for eligible children through medical care coordination for children and youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) ages 0-21. It manages the Newborn Genetics Screening Program and the Newborn Hearing Screening Program.
  • The Preventive Medicine Clinics at local public health offices provide family planning services, immunizations, and testing/treatment for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases and breast and cervical cancer screening;
  • Disease Prevention concentrates on the prevention and control of infectious diseases with outreach, surveillance, outbreak response, testing/treatment, contact follow-up, and referrals for sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and more. The team performs harm reduction counseling and facilitates needle exchange/disposal to reduce the risk for the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis and Narcan training/dispensing for opiate overdose prevention.
  • Local members of NMDOH's Health Promotion Team work statewide with community groups, coalitions and councils for awareness and mobilization initiatives related to healthy lifestyles, environments, policies and plans.

Learn more about NMDOH public health services by visiting NMHealth.org.

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