News Releases from Department of Health

United States CDC Director Walensky visits Hawai‘i

Posted on Mar 21, 2023 in Newsroom

HONOLULU, Hi – Centers for Illness Regulate and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky was in Hawai‘i this 7 days talking about CDC’s investments in the point out, the potential of public health and fitness, the problems experiencing community well being in the point out and the worth of overall health equity.

In August, Dr. Walensky introduced her plan to shift CDC and general public wellbeing ahead subsequent the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledging the frailty of public health and fitness ahead of the pandemic.

As portion of CDC’s function to improve the nation’s public wellbeing infrastructure, it awarded the Hawai‘i State Office of Wellbeing $14.19 million from its General public Wellbeing Infrastructure Grant System, with an emphasis on rural and underrepresented populations. These investments will be utilised to fortify the public health workforce and foundational abilities of the state.

“It is important that every single group and every condition has a robust infrastructure for public overall health,” stated CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH. “During my time going to Hawai‘i I have found innovative strategies in which the state is hunting to equitably secure the overall health of its individuals. We need to proceed to prioritize these plans and attempts, for a strong and far more ready general public health program of the long term.”

While in Hawai‘i, Dr. Walensky fulfilled with Governor Josh Green, M.D., as effectively as the director of the wellness section, Dr. Kenneth S. Fink.

Conference with Dr. Walensky now furnished us a exceptional option to talk about Hawai‘i’s technique to the pandemic, which resulted in the nation’s lowest mortality price, as effectively as a chance to specific our drive to deliver additional equitable obtain to health services for our rural citizens for the duration of crises,” claimed Gov. Environmentally friendly. “It was also an opportunity to thank her for her amazing leadership for the duration of the pandemic.”

“We are honored to have Dr. Walensky pay a visit to with us and emphasize the relevance of investing in public wellbeing to continue to keep our communities safe and healthier,” mentioned Dr. Fink. “CDC’s assistance and partnership has been and proceeds to be priceless.” 

Dr. Walensky was also equipped to listen to from CDC grant recipients doing work on plans like persistent wellness avoidance, HIV/AIDS, immunizations, respiratory ailments, and overdose prevention. She was also briefed by wellbeing department personnel on health challenges affecting the Indigenous Hawaiian inhabitants and other Pacific Island communities.

Dr. Walensky also frequented University of Hawai‘i facilities, which includes the UH Most cancers Centre and the John A. Burns Faculty of Medicine, exactly where she spoke to health care and community health college students and staff about value of pursuing a occupation in health care.

For much more details about the CDC, make sure you go to: cdc.gov.

# # #