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EMBARGOED
FOR RELEASE on 1/18/12
PIEDMONT Health DISTRICT EARNS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RECOGNITION
Piedmont Health Districtis Honored as "Public Health Ready"
Farmville– As local health departments nationwide strive to protect the public from new and infectious diseases, bioterrorism, natural disasters, and other public health threats, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has recognized the Piedmont Health Districtfor its ability to respond to public health emergencies.
Piedmont Health District met the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"We are proud to have been recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness," said Dr. Alex Samuel, District Director of the Piedmont Health District "We will continue to improve our ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis that may arise here."
"NACCHO commends the Piedmont Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness," said Robert Pestronk, Executive Director of NACCHO. "The public health system is making great strides thanks to the good work of leaders in local public health preparedness such as the Piedmont Health District."
Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergoa thorough evaluation process by peer review. PPHR required the Piedmont Health District to meet expectations in public health preparedness in three key areas: preparedness planning; workforce competency; and demonstration of all-hazards readiness through exercises or a response to a real event. The recognition confirms that the Piedmont Health District has an emergency response plan in place, the plan is connected to other jurisdictional emergency response plans, agency staff members are trained, and the plan is exercised and used during public health emergencies.
The mission of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives.
For more information on all Project Public Health Ready recognized sites and project tools and resources, go to http://www.naccho.org/topics/emergency/pphr.cfm.
Serving the counties of Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg Nottoway and Prince Edward. http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/Piedmont
