Our STD Control Program recently released the 2015 Arizona STD Annual Report. This report highlights the impact of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among residents of Arizona with specific focus on syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, the most commonly reported STDs. In 2015 cases of STDs in Arizona continued to increase. Cases grew from 39,919, in 2014, [...]
Proper immunization throughout the lifespan is one of the most important steps that individuals can take to protect their health, their children’s health, and the health of the community. Each year, a group of health and medical experts called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices creates recommended vaccination schedules for children and adolescents as well [...]
Last week our HIV Prevention Program, the Ryan White Part B Program, and the Ryan White Part A Program of Maricopa County presented the third annual HIV symposium. More than 260 people attended, representing state and local health departments, community-based organizations, clinical providers, community leaders, and people living with HIV. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton kicked [...]
The first group of four behavioral health technician interns from Glendale Community College started their training at the Arizona State Hospital in mid-February. The Arizona State Hospital is the only psychiatric inpatient facility being utilized by Glendale Community College for this internship, which will help us recruit new staff to the facility. Behavioral health technician [...]
The Arizona SunWise Program is excited to kick off our 14th annual “Be SunWise and Play Sun Smart!” poster contest. The contest is open to Arizona residents age 17 or younger, and encourages youth to illustrate ways to keep safe in the Arizona sun. The winning artist and teacher will receive on-field awards and appear [...]
Adolescence is a critical period of development where young people are exposed to new experiences, such as dating. Unfortunately, some teens find themselves involved in dating relationships that involve physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse. Teens are often unable to recognize the signs of teen dating violence, or may be reluctant to tell their parents [...]
Today we’re celebrating the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. The day honors the contributions and expertise of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists as food and nutrition experts. We have more than 20 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists working on our team to help us achieving our mission to improve health and wellness for all [...]
March 5 through 11 marks the 19th National Groundwater Awareness Week. Groundwater is the water that soaks into the soil from rain or other precipitation and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings in beds of rocks and sand. Most groundwater flows directly into streams, rivers and lakes. Groundwater can then be pumped through [...]
Our disease detectives at the state and counties are at it again, investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 . We are working with Arizona’s counties, other states, CDC, and regulatory agencies to determine the source of the outbreak. E. coli O157 is a strain that causes diarrhea, often bloody, along with abdominal cramps, headache, [...]
Everyone who has been watching the news and has probably heard about efforts to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare. When the ACA was established, the funding for several pre-existing, long-established, and important, life-saving public health programs including immunizations and infectious disease prevention and control, [...]
