November 21st is Public Health Thank You Day

MEDIA RELEASE 19 November 2011

November 21st is Public Health Thank You Day

21st November is Public Health Thank You Day[i]. It gives us the opportunity to recognise the on-going efforts of those who work behind the scenes to ensure the population of NZ has access to clean water and a healthy environment, has its health promoted and is protected from global health threats.

Public health academics and practitioners engage with local and national government to address health inequities, look for solutions to communicable and non-communicable diseases, advocate for healthy housing to improve our population health and support the ‘big picture’ of a NZ with a healthy, prosperous population.

Some of the public health successes we can celebrate this year include:
• the response to the Christchurch earthquake and ongoing involvement in the rebuild effort
• the response to the measles outbreak
• contribution to the Rugby World Cup preparedness
• submissions on numerous issues of public health significance for example the Alcohol Law Reform Bill, the Auckland Plan etc.
• contributions to tobacco control initiatives
• contributions to research such as “Growing Up in NZ” and the recent recognition of NZ public health expertise through the winning of an international tender to study the flu virus
• contribution to improved overall childhood immunisation coverage rates (for Māori in particular)
The NZ College of Public Health Medicine would like to thank its members and also the myriad public health workers in NZ for their dedication in 2011.

ENDS

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