HealthBeat - Miami-Dade County Health Department

Jeb BushGovernorToni JenningsLieutenant GovernorM. Rony François, M.D., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.Secretary, Florida Department of HealthBonita J. Sorensen, M.D. M.B.A.Deputy State Health OfficerNancy Humbert, A.R.N.P., M.S.N.Deputy Secretary for HealthState Public Health Nursing DirectorFlorida's Women's Health OfficerS ENIORLillian Rivera, R.N., M.S.N.AdministratorRene Ynestroza, MBA, MSMISSenior Public Health Services ManagerFermin Leguen, MD, MPHMedical Executive DirectorOlga ConnorDirector, Office of Communications & Legislative AffairsJoAnne Kroesen, A.R.N.P., M.S.N., M.S.C.H.N.Director, Office of Organizational DevelopmentDenise West, R.D., L.D./N, .M.P.H.Director, WIC & NutritionSandra Smith, R.N., B.S.N.Assistant C.H.N. Director, Special Immunizations ProgramMorton Laitner, Esq.Chief Legal CounselSamir Elmir, M.S., P.E., D.E.E.Division Director, Environmental Health and EngineeringEvelyn Ullah, B.S.N., M.S.W.Director, HIV/AIDSThomas Burns, M.P.H.Program Manager, STDL EADERSAlicia Reyes-Perez, R.N., B.S.N.Registered Nurse Consultant, Director, School HealthProgramOnelia Fajardo, M.P.H., DR, B.A.Director, Refugee Health Assessment ProgramPaula Schimpf, M.S.N., A.R.N.P.Assistant CHN Director, Women's Health ProgramMaribel Zayas, B.S.Director, Office of Public Health Financial ManagementKaren Weller, R.N., B.S.N., I.C.C.E.Director, Chronic Disease Prevention, andHealthy Start Data Management ProgramsMessage from the Administrator,LILLIAN RIVERA, RN, MSNDear Friends of Public Health:Hope you all are having a wonderful and safe summer!!!!Important Reminder on drowning:There are over 7,000 drowning deathsnationally each year.[Source: National Safety Council]Here are some highlights of our Publichealth agenda:Pandemic Influenza Planning in Miami-Dade CountyOur community is working on strengthen our plans in preparation for a pandemicinfluenza. The Health Council of South Florida with their group of expert planners ishelping us. The planning process will continue thru December 2006. If you need additionalinformation, please call Maria Torres at 305 336-1259.Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI)This has been a summer full of achievements. Last May we conducted a CitiesReadiness Initiative (CRI) drill along with Miami-Dade College, the Miami-DadeCounty Office of Emergency Management and the Miami-Dade Police Department,as part of our response to a large-scale public health emergency. This live-actiontraining was a valuable tool to strengthen our ability to respond to an actual event,and we were able to test our capacity to deliver medicines and medical supplies duringsuch an emergency. I would like to congratulate all the participants, and speciallyour team of Public Health Preparedness, who did an excellent job in organizing andimplementing the drill.Health Connect in SchoolsHealth Connect in Schools is a project that all our community has to be very proudof. Launched in 2006, Health Connect In Our Schools will be implemented in phases,with every school in Miami-Dade County benefiting from a health team within fiveyears. Each team, comprised of a nurse or nurse practitioner, a social worker and twohealth aides will provide services to two schools to meet children's immediate schoolhealth needs and help connect them to a pediatrician or primary care physician forongoing medical care. Schools with nurse practitioners will provide primary healthservices for uninsured students with no other options or access to health care. HealthConnect in Our Schools is a partnership funded by The Children's Trust, Miami-DadeCounty Public Schools and the Miami-Dade County Health Department. We look forwardto our new school year that starts August 14, 2006.Back to School ImmunizationsOur Back to School Campaign that assist family with immunizations/physicals duringthe summer has been a great success. We have our outstanding immunizationsrates because of our community collaboration. Thanks to all our staff involved. GoSIP!!!Coming in the Fall 2006The United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), set for September 21-25, 2006, atthe Westin Diplomat Hotel, in Hollywood, FL, is an event you cannot afford to miss.This will be the largest AIDS-related gathering in the United States, with the participationof over 4,000 workers, from all fronts.Rejuvenate, Revitalize, Remember, Complex Challenges Demand Creative Solutionsis the theme for the conferenceThe journey toward a world without HIV/AIDS requires the skills, experience and passionthat each of us brings to this struggle. This year's opening plenary celebratingthe Unsung Heroes exemplifies the spirit of everyone working on the frontlines of theAIDS epidemic. Kweisi Mfume and Sheryl Lee Ralph will speak about it in their keynote addresses.I hope you will join our public health employees for this most important meeting aswe renew our spirit and recommit ourselves to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Ms.Evelyn Ullah, Director of HIV/AIDS program, has been appointed as co-chair for theSouth Florida Host Committee Council and chair for USCA 2008 which will be held inMiami. She is also USCA 2006 standing board member of the National MinorityAIDS Council.Warm Regards,2HealthBeat