MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPRING 2004 ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade Addresses Chronic Disease in Our Community "In 2001, chronic diseases accounted for six of the top ten leading causes of death in Florida. Of the 167,181 deaths that occurred in Florida, 71.2% were due to chronic disease." John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A. Secretary, Florida Department of Health Statistics for Miami-Dade coincide with those of the State with heart disease as the leading cause of death followed by cancer and stroke. As a community, we wanted to work together to reduce chronic disease in our community and formed the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade (Consortium) in September 2003. Since that first meeting, membership has doubled and now includes over 50 organizations, businesses and government agencies. Healthy People 2010 serves as a guide to improve the health of people in the United States and includes a section related to chronic disease. The State of Florida Department of Health has set the statewide goals based upon Healthy People 2010 addressing arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, nutrition and overweight, physical activity, tobacco use and epilepsy through health promotion and prevention of illness, disability and premature death. It is designed to reach two major goals, increase quality and years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities. The Consortium is working with the Health Council of South Florida on the Planned Approach to Community Health to promote disease prevention programs. Since addressing chronic diseases is a multifaceted issue, the Consortium members formed committees to address the priorities that the group has set. The committees, which meet regularly, are: 1) School Based Issues The co-chairs are Carol Chong, RD, from Miami-Dade Public Schools and Begoña Calcerrada, from North Beach Coalition and publisher of Hola Amigos. The overall goal of this committee is to promote health and wellness in the schools 2) Worksite Wellness The co-chairs are Santiago Leon, from ACC Hall Insurance Brokers and Dr. Donna Riley, from Miami- Dade Public Schools. The group decided on promoting healthy lifestyles through worksite activities by sharing information on best practices and by creating partnerships to implement worksite wellness activities. 3) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention The co-chairs are Tori Gabriel, from Miami Heart Research Institute, Inc. and Peggy McLoughlin, from Jackson Health Systems. The group will address chronic disease through the promotion of a healthy lifestyle including good nutrition, regular physical activity and not using tobacco products. The Consortium is also working with the Health Council of South Florida on the Planned Approach to Community Health (PATCH) to promote disease prevention programs. The Consortium and committee chairs make up the steering committee that will help guide the PATCH process through the five phases. Upon completion, the community will have added information that will enable them to better identify and target priority health problems. The Consortium is open to all who are interested. For additional information or to participate in the Consortium, please call (786) 845- 0335. A web site will be online soon. Contributing Writer: Barbara Adkison 14 HealthBeat
I N t he Spotlight CONGRATULATIONS, EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH! Congratulations to the outstanding employees who were recognized for their exemplary performance and professionalism for the months of December, January and February 2003. Our sincere thanks and gratitude for all the hard work you have put forth to make Miami-Dade County a healthy and safe community. DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY Yainet Gómez XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Michael Cover XXXXXXXXXXX Karen Weller XXXXXXXXXXX The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is celebrating 100 years of professional social work all over the United States this month. That is why we want to acknowledge the work of our social workers. Our social workers here at the Miami-Dade County Health Department work to expand choices and opportunities for all people, with emphasis on vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploited people and groups. We commend all of you for your numerous contribution to the department and surrounding Miami-Dade County. EMPLOYEE NEWS Annie Neasman will retire after more than 30 years of public health service Deputy Secretary for Health/State Director of Public Health Nursing, Ms. Annie R. Neasman, R.N. M.S., is retiring effective May 21, <strong>2004</strong>. The announcement was made by DOH Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., who said: “Neasman is among Florida's renowned public health leaders, and I am extremely honored and humbled to have served along side her.’’ “Ms. Neasman's leadership at the Florida Department of Health will be sorely missed. She has been instrumental in our quest to make our department the best in the nation. Although she will be leaving the department, Ms. Neasman's passion for public health remains; and, she will continue her public health leadership role in her community,’’ Agwunobi added. An activity is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, <strong>2004</strong>, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in Room 301, Building 4052, Capital Circle Office Complex in Tallahassee, in celebration of Ms. Neasman's over 30 years of public health service to the state of Florida. Annie R. Neasman, Olga Connor and Sebastian, the UM mascot. 15 HealthBeat
Page 1 and 2: HealthBeat MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents ADMINISTRATOR’S
Page 5 and 6: The Refugee Health Program is Colle
Page 7 and 8: Left to right: Dr. Jayne Greenberg,
Page 9 and 10: M D C H D C e l e b r a t e s B l a
Page 11 and 12: Women and Coronary Heart Disea ELEN
Page 13: Volunteers Something Good is Happen

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPRING 2004 ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?