Monday, November 22, 2010

November 22 Honors Public Health Heros

As Thanksgiving approaches, McHenry County Department of Health joins Research!America and leading U.S. public health organizations in asking Americans to give special thanks to their federal, state and local "public health heroes" who protect the nation’s health throughout the year. These everyday heroes include our health inspectors, case workers, nurses, Animal Control Officers and support staff.  November 23 marks the nation’s 6th annual Public Health Thank You Day. 

“Public Health Thank You Day helps remind us why our public health professionals are so important to our day-to-day health and safety. Let’s take a moment during this busy time of year and thank our nation’s public health professionals, who work to keep us safe from the flu and from injury but also from chronic illness and bioterrorism,” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America.

Joining Research!America are the American Public Health Association, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Association of County & City Health Officials and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.  “Public health professionals work for us year-round to prevent illness and promote good health,” said Patrick J. McNulty, MCDH Public Health Administrator.  “We owe our gratitude to those who devote their lives in local, state and federal governments to making the world a safe and healthier place.”

According to a Research!America poll, 84% of Americans say it is very important to include strategies to prevent disease and promote wellness that can help reduce health care costs. And 75% of Americans favor increasing federal funding for state and local health departments and hospitals nationwide.

“As Americans watch the global spread of infectious diseases such as cholera, we see the value of investment in public health infrastructure more than ever,” Woolley said. “Federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health fund research that helps us live longer, healthier, more productive lives. That is why Congress and the public must continue to support their vital work.” Research!America is the nation’s largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in 1989, it is supported by member organizations that represent more than 125 million Americans. For more information, visit http://www.researchamerica.org/.

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