On March 12, 2008, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced on their website, that they are joining forces with the Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) in order to create and enact Healthy People 2020.
Healthy People 2020 is the name for the national objectives set every decade by HHS in an effort to improve the overall public health. It is a tradition dating all the way back to 1979. This year, the CDC will give their input along with other agencies on how to achieve the five areas of growth already set forth by HHS. These areas are ones in which a “positive” change amongst the public sector would improve the overall quality of health within the nation. They are as follows:
- A reduction of food borne Illnesses.
- A reduction of cancer cases.
- An elimination of disparities in health amongst varying races, sexes and economic venues.
- An increase in the years of life and quality of life.
- An increase in the overall health of people suffering with disabilities and the reduction of secondary illnesses within this group.
The first of five meetings will take place on March 17, 2008, in the CDC's Tom Harkin Global Communication Center in Atlanta, GA. The CDC will meet with HHS in order to draft an overall framework on how all of the areas of growth can be obtained from a “public” perspective. In addition, both agencies will be sure that their overall focus lines up with each other. It is the best way to collaborate in order to meet the health needs of the country. Other meetings will be held in around the country in additional, popular U.S. cities.
Throughout the remainder of March up until the end of May, additional meetings will be held in popular U.S. cities like San Francisco, New York, Fort Worth, Chicago and Bethesda. These meetings will iron out more details until both the CDC and HHS can hold a final and sixth meeting with in Washington, DC where they will introduce Healthy People 2020 to several groups. These groups include academic institutions, professional associations, state and local health departments, public and private health organizations, public sector organizations and interested members of the public. This last and final meeting will give anyone who desires a chance to get the details of Healthy People 2020 first hand and even ask questions.
