Local Health Agencies, Hurt by Cuts, Brace for Flu

[autorank]

Source: New York Times



By KEVIN SACK
Published: April 29, 2009

The recession has drained hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of workers from the state and local health departments that are now the front line in the country’s defense against a possible swine flu pandemic.

Health officials in affected states said they had thus far been able to manage the testing and treatment of infected residents and mount vigorous public education campaigns. But many said they had been able to do so only by shifting workers from other public health priorities, and some questioned how their depleted departments might handle a pandemic.

“I’m very concerned,” said Robert M. Pestronk, executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. “Local health departments are barely staffed to do the work they do on a day-to-day basis. A large increase in workload will mean that much of the other work that is being done now won’t be done. And depending on the scale of an epidemic, capacity may be exceeded.”

At a news conference on Monday, Dr. Richard E. Besser, the acting director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the public health system was in “a tough situation.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/health/30states.html?ref=health

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This isn't something that can be reversed quickly. When local health departments scale down, the workers they lose are more labor intensive to replace. You can't have 30 new hires with the skills of 30 experienced health workers who've been laid off.

Nice work Bush regime. Another precious memory.

[ananda]

1. And didn't the Reeps just kill further funding...

... typical

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Hey, didn't Bobby Jindal mock that

"volcano monitoring" funding just before Redoubt went off?

And now the GOPigs have slashed "pandemics" from any funding, as well.

God, they're so fucking PRESCIENT!!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. One more reason why we need the funds

and yes, national single payer health care

But these workers do the yeoman's work of education and also tracking... most folks don't even have a clue what their local health department does

Unlike the Street department, most folks don't know of the health dept workers, since they are mostly invisible, why they are amongst the first to go every time

[uppityperson]

3. k&r for obvious reasons. Hey, teabaggers, what do you think? nt

[autorank]

10. Tea bagging gone global - I give you the Health Minister of Mesico

While they should have been working on real public health issues,
this clown, the current public health minister, was spewing ignorance
and taking his eye off the ball. He's there thanks to a stolen presidential
election in Mexico in 2006. Tea bagging gone global.

Inter Press Service English News Wire
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-134167994.html
01-29-2007

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 29, 2007 (IPS/GIN) -- Mexican Health Minister
Jos Crdova's views about sexual health policies has caused alarm
among social activists and analysts.

According to Crdova, using a condom is not safe, the "morning
after" pill is an abortifacient, and campaigns in favor of sexual
tolerance promote homosexuality. (the guy's a total nut)

The Catholic Church and conservative organizations, however, are
pleased. They opposed the sexual and reproductive health strategies
of the Vicente Fox administration (2000-2006).

Cordova, who chaired the Congressional Health Commission from
2003 to 2006, was appointed minister of health when President
Felipe Calderon (was elected president).

[McCamy Taylor]

5. The only investment in public health under Bush was "terror". Alll funds went to that.

All the new staff and programs had to be terror related. That is why Katrina was such a disaster and why we are not ready for flu.

[autorank]

8. You're right. Here's where Bush made history - first cut in CDC's budget

12/18/2007

http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/344050_diseasecontrol19.html

On Nov. 13, Bush vetoed Congress' bipartisan domestic health spending measure, better known as the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Explaining his veto, Bush said the spending measure was "bloated" and must be cut to the much lower spending levels he proposed to Congress in February.

After the House of Representatives failed to override the president's veto, Democrats hoped a compromise could be struck with the White House and congressional Republicans. Instead, Democrats were promised another veto if domestic funding was over the president's level. This week, Congress hopes to pass a significantly scaled-back LHHS bill as part of a massive year-end omnibus spending bill.

One agency caught in the crossfire is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This well-respected health protection agency suffered budget cuts in 2006 for the first time in more than 20 years.

Last year the CDC was level-funded, meaning inflation and cost of living adjustments further reduced the CDC's strength. A significant increase this year could have provided the agency with much needed resources.

This is quintessential Bush regime planning. The gut the critical agency for pandemics as a parting
shot. This deserves a good airing as things move along. Bush's responsibility for 1.2 million
dead Iraqi civilians may be eclipsed by the malfeasance in this affair.

[Downwinder]

6. If this flu outbreak follows past scenarios you have two more waves to come.

[Stellabella]

7. THIS is only one reason why we need a strong and vibrant government.

Your gated communities aren't going to help you with this one, you freeps. Gates aren't a barrier to viruses. And thanks a lot for giving us the disaster of Bush and Cheney for eight years, which almost destroyed the country.

[autorank]

9. There is nowhere to hide. Here's DeFoe's Journal of the Plague Year

"It remains to mention now what public measures were taken by the magistrates for the general safety, and to prevent the spreading of the distemper, when it first broke out. I shall have frequent occasion to speak of the prudence of the magistrates, their charity, their vigilance for the poor, and for preserving good order, furnishing provisions, and the like, when the plague was increased, as it afterwards was" Link

Will we fall from this higher standard exhibited in 1665.

Journal of the Plague Year

[AlphaCentauri]

11. What are the insurance companies doing to prevent their clients from getting the flu?

sorry I have many questions