June 3, 2011
West Piedmont Health District is Honored as “Public Health Ready”
(MARTINSVILLE, Va.) — 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 West Piedmont Health District for its ability to respond to public health emergencies.
The West 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.
“We are proud to have been recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness,” said Gordon Green, M.D., director of the West Piedmont Health District. “It reflects tremendous effort, dedication, creativity and cooperation on the part of our entire team of experts. We will continue to improve our ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis in the West Piedmont Health District.”
“NACCHO commends the West Piedmont Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness,” said Robert Pestronk, executive director. “The public health system is making great strides thanks to the good work of leaders in local public health preparedness such as the West Piedmont Health District.”
Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a thorough evaluation process by peer review. PPHR required the West 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 West 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.
NACCHO’s mission 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 PPHR recognized sites and project tools and resources, go towww.naccho.org/topics/emergency/pphr.cfm. Or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/westpied/index.htm.