The newly formed HIV Statewide Advisory Group (SWAG) is recruiting up to 12 new members to represent people living with HIV, those affected by the disease, and HIV care and social service providers statewide. The SWAG is charged with providing planning and guidance for the delivery of services funded by the SWAG and Ryan White [...]
Students Taking a New Direction (STAND) is gearing up for its sixth annual youth conference. Each year STAND members from around the state converge in Phoenix to celebrate their efforts for the year and to learn about new ways to combat tobacco. The celebration highlights a three-day conference designed by STAND members to increase leadership [...]
Back in 2013, our Licensing team partnered with our Infectious Disease Services team and the Healthcare Associated Infections Advisory Committee to put together a day-long conference aimed at improving infection control practices. The ADVICE Collaborative brought together licensed dialysis providers, the dialysis network, federal partners and public health professionals to find new ways to promote infection control, build relationships, and identify [...]
We're currently busy planning our 6th annual Arizona Infectious Disease Training and Exercise, which will take place from July 21st-23rd this year. This event brings together nearly 400 infection control practitioners, public and community health nurses, health educators, epidemiologists, sanitarians, correctional facility representatives, animal control agencies, preparedness coordinators, laboratorians, border health counterparts, and university faculty and students to [...]
Arizona is one of America's leading states in developing a plan for Crisis Standards of Care. Crisis Standards of Care are those standards that are implemented when a catastrophic event occurs and there are shortages of space, supplies, and staff within the hospital and healthcare community. These protocols can serve as a planning platform from [...]
Our epidemiologists in the Office of Infectious Disease Services have been working with local and federal public health partners on an outbreak investigation of a rare strain of Salmonella, called Salmonella Paratyphi B. Most ill people in Maricopa County report eating sushi containing raw minced or ground tuna at restaurants. As of May 20, there are 51 cases nationally [...]
Arizona, like every state in the country, is battling an epidemic of people misusing and abusing prescription drugs. We’ve been working with several partners on the Arizona Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse Initiative since 2012 to reduce the problem in Arizona. The Initiative team recently developed a comprehensive toolkit designed to assist communities to tackle prescription drug abuse at the [...]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4 million Americans are living with viral hepatitis and more than 20,000 die every year from hepatitis-related infections. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation. Two types of viral hepatitis, B and C, are [...]
Getting kids to eat healthy is hard, especially for busy moms. The Arizona WIC program now offers new foods to help families provide nutritious meals. Yogurt, whole wheat pasta, and new brands of cereal and baby foods for older babies are now available through the WIC program. The full list of foods includes many fresh, frozen and canned vegetables, [...]
Public health has reach into many areas that you may not think about. Currently we’re working to reduce the number of prescription drug overdoses and deaths. The misuse of prescription drugs is a national epidemic. We’re working with the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to attack the problem here. The funding for our prevention efforts comes from the Preventive Health and [...]
