American Public Health Association Congratulates Health and Human Services on 50 Years of Service to the Nation's Health

4/30/2003

From: David Fouse of the American Public Health Association, 202-777-2501 or david.fouse@apha.org

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The following is a statement of FACP Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin:

Today we celebrate the contributions over the past 50 years of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the thousands of public health professionals in its employ. From eradicating polio in the United States to managing our global response to SARS, the agency and its workers have led our nation through some of the most challenging periods and remarkable discoveries in the history of modern health.

These breakthroughs have had a direct impact on improving health outcomes for the American people. Increases in life expectancy; decreases in preventable, unintentional deaths; and improvements in the quality of life for all Americans are due in large measure to the successful prevention, treatment and research initiatives spearheaded by the agency.

I commend Secretary Tommy Thompson for his stewardship of this important institution and for helping prepare HHS for the next 50 years. His chronic disease initiative is the latest example of the agency's lasting commitment to health promotion and disease prevention, and it will address one of the major health challenges of the 21st century.

I also commend the dedicated public health professionals who have served this institution and this country during the last half a century.