For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY
| Contact: Nicole Arens (202-729-4069) |
Edison Lee (202-729-4068) |
| Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide |
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide |
| RSVP:nicole.arens@ogilvypr.com |
|
Public Health Leaders to Discuss Improving Emergency Preparedness
New Poll Data Shows Most Americans Not Maintaining Preparedness Plans
WHAT: The American Public Health Association (APHA) will kick off National Public Health Week 2007 with a Roundtable titled, “Re-Taking the First Step Toward Preparedness: Lessons Learned From Local Health Emergencies.” The Roundtable will bring together officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Red Cross, as well as state and local officials with recent experiences in dealing with local health emergencies.
New national polling research, which APHA commissioned and will release at the Roundtable, found that 40 percent of the public has taken steps to prepare in the past. However, those same respondents admit to not maintaining their preparedness plans. In fact, almost 90 percent of the general public says that they have not taken enough steps to prepare for a public health crisis and know they could do more. Yet more than 30 disasters are declared every year that can threaten public health and test an individual’s preparedness. The Roundtable discussion will focus on the necessity of preparedness, drawing on the lessons learned from two recent public health emergencies:
- Rhode Island Meningitis Outbreak of 2007
- Denver Snow Storm of 2006—2007
MODERATOR: Robert Hager, Retired NBC News Correspondent
WHO: Admiral John O. Agwunobi, MD, MBA, MPH, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS,Chief, Office of Public Health Practice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Darlene Washington, DPM,Director of Preparedness, American Red Cross
David Gifford, MD, MPH,Director, Rhode Island Public Health Department
Rosemary Hunter, Principal, Greenwood Elementary School, Warwick, Rhode Island
Robin K. Koons, PhD, Emergency Response Coordinator, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
Christopher E. Urbina, MD, MPH,Director, Denver Public Health Department
WHEN: Monday, April 2, 2007
9:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. ( A light breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m.)
WHERE: National Press Club
Holeman Lounge
529 14th Street NW, 13 th Floor
Washington, DC 20045
About APHA
Founded in 1872, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association works to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats. APHA represents a broad array of health officials, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health providers at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions. For more information about APHA, visit www.apha.org.
Contact: Sabrina Jones, (202) 777-2509, sabrina.jones@apha.org
