Message from the Administrator
Dear Friends of Public Health:
From Immunizations to Environmental Health, all our programs have recently worked hard to keep diseases and threats at bay.
One example was the tremendous effort our Department put in finalizing the mass vaccination campaign against H1N1 Influenza that we started in 2009.
With the help and support of community partners, the Miami-Dade County Health Department (MDCHD) was able to develop and implement health initiatives that benefited our residents and visitors.
An HIV/AIDS Early Intervention project, better funding for our dental program for children, a partnership with community organizations to combat tuberculosis, the tremendous contribution by a group of volunteers, including physicians, dentists and nurses that provide free health services to patients in need, and public health campaigns against breast cancer and other chronic diseases are just a few of the many things the department achieved during this year.
One of the highlights of 2010 was the opening of our new Center of Excellence at 1350 NW 14th St., a state of the art facility that houses such programs as Immunizations, Women’s Health, Tuberculosis Treatment and Prevention, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, and Vitals Records, among other public health services.
In September 2010, we officially launched the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW), an initiative aimed at promoting good nutrition and physical activity. By implementing CPPW at a local level we hope to lead the way in the fight against chronic disease in the county, the State of Florida and the nation.
The funds we received from the federal government will enable us to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables through community gardens and farms to institutions, promote healthy options in vending machines, promote breastfeeding, invest in activities that promotes physical activity, incorporate standards in community planning designs that encourage physical activity and enhance the safe routes to school and park programs.
As 2011 unfolds, we are committed to public health in Miami-Dade and will work hard to increase access to affordable, good quality health care and continue providing preventive health services to all our residents.
I’m very proud of all our employees and leaders for the excellent job they do every day in securing public health on our neighborhoods, streets and towns.
