Bad Bugs, No Drugs?
CDC released a report this week about antibiotic resistance. They found that more than 2 million people in the US get sick every year from germs that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die from these infections. The report also found that up to half of antibiotic use in people is unnecessary or inappropriate. Check out CDC’s [...]
2013 State Health Officer’s Meeting
This has been an excellent week to learn what others in my position are doing across the country. All the state health directors met in Florida this week to look ahead and strategize about the coming year’s goals. I’m always proud when our award-winning programs are highlighted, but it’s a great opportunity to talk to others about best practices in [...]
Help & Advice for New Parents at Home
Guest blog by Mary Ellen Cunningham, Bureau of Women's and Children's Health All new parents have experienced a version of this thought when they bring home their helpless, tiny newborn: “I have no idea what I am doing.” We also know now how terribly important those first years are for baby. The brain development in the first years lays the [...]
Leveraging Medicaid to Help Arizonans “Kick the Habit”
Many of the health disparities in the US are linked to income. In general… the lower a family’s income the greater the prevalence of health disparities. Health impacts from smoking cigarettes are no exception. Arizonans below the poverty line (100% of FPL) are 40% more likely to smoke than those with more money... and about 34% of Arizona folks who receive their health [...]
Dengue Fever: An Emerging Sonoran Desert Threat?
In the summer of 1994 a U of A entomologist was sampling insects in the backyard of his Tucson home when he netted some dark colored mosquitoes with silver bands on their legs. He suspected that they were a tropical breed that shouldn’t be in the Sonoran Desert and sent them to us for identification. His suspicions were confirmed when we identified [...]
The School Day Just Got Healthier
Nearly 32 million U.S. kids get meals at school every day- and the meals are based on new nutrition standards from the USDA. Kids attending the schools that participate in the program will have more vegetables and fruits, less fat and salt, and more whole grains. Portion sizes will better meet the needs of growing children. The changes to make for [...]