ADHS and Our Partners Continued Zika Planning Efforts
Last week we hosted a Zika Capability Assessment Workshop that was attended by more than 100 tribal, county, state, and federal partners as part of the Arizona Zika-preparedness collaborative. Attendees worked together to identify current response activities, document plans for future efforts, and identify areas for improvement. The workshop included presentations on the history of Zika virus, current Zika response activities in [...]
New Surgeon General’s Report Highlights Need to Protects Youth from E-Cigarettes
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy published a report last week on the emerging public health threat related to the e-cigarette/vape use among youth. While this report is the 33rd Surgeon General's report in 53 years to address the impact of tobacco on health, it's important to note that it is the first to focus on e-cigarettes. This report confirms that there [...]
Arizona Success in Protecting People from Secondhand Smoke is a Model for the Nation
The successful smoke-free programs we have been working on in Arizona for people living in multi-unit housing have been expanded nationwide. Over the last several years, three Arizona organizations, the Arizona Smoke-Free Living Coalition, American Lung Association in Arizona, and the Arizona Multihousing Association, under the leadership of our Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease, have converted 147 multi-family properties [...]
Licensing Team makes Extreme Improvements to Critical Review Process
Our Health Care Institution Branch Licensing Architectural Team has successfully streamlined processes, maximized resources and reduced the time it takes to review and approve architectural plans and specifications required by rule. This is critically important because architectural plans and specifications must meet the adopted 2010 Facility Guidelines Institute regulations before a new health care institution such as a hospital, long-term [...]
We are Celebrating National Influenza Vaccination Week December 4-10
For millions of people every season, flu causes symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and miserable days spent in bed. Even more seriously, influenza results in hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year. Luckily, there are vaccines that can help to prevent the flu. How well a flu [...]
National Handwashing Awareness Week
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified handwashing as the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease. Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water will help protect you from getting sick with things like influenza, a cold, norovirus, and many other unpleasant infections. This week, we're celebrating National Handwashing Awareness Week [...]