North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, April 7-13, and recognizing the contributions of public health professionals on its team, in local public health units, and in other settings who work to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of North Dakotans in communities across the state.
Public health professionals include physicians, nurses, nutritionists, other community health workers, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, emergency response professionals, food and lodging licensers, health facility inspectors, health program administrators, laboratory scientists, tobacco cessation and prevention experts, forensics experts and other professionals.
Their work supports healthy and vibrant communities by reducing the risk for infectious and chronic diseases, enhancing systems of care, strengthening population-based health to meet local needs, and promoting public health readiness and response.
“We are grateful for the dedication and expertise of the public health professionals on our team and to our local public health partners for the health and safety services, support, education and outreach they provide to North Dakotans,” said HHS Interim Commissioner Dirk Wilke.
In North Dakota, HHS provides state aid to help fund local public health units while also supporting local community health. The 28 single and multi-county local public health units provide varied, valuable health services that meet local needs.
Public health workers and programs support community health through health screenings for early detection and intervention, nutrition education and support, chronic disease prevention and treatment, routine wellness vaccines and injury prevention activities. Public health professionals also promote oral health, conduct health and sanitation inspections and work to reduce alcohol abuse, opioid overdoses, youth vaping, and use of tobacco-related products as they focus on local community health priorities.
In addition to health surveillance and monitoring, data collection, analysis and reporting and program administration and support, HHS public health professionals provide direct support to communities and health systems routinely and during disasters and health emergencies as a key part of the state’s emergency readiness and response team.
HHS team members provide gap staffing when requested at understaffed long-term care facilities and hospitals to support quality care. They also respond with resources if a facility’s water, heat or electrical service is interrupted and support facility evacuations, if needed.
HHS Public Health team members also conduct laboratory testing through the department’s State Laboratory, including microbiology testing, water testing, and testing related to mosquito and tick surveillance programs, biothreats and biosafety resources. The lab’s primary customers include clinical labs across the state.
The public health system focuses on supporting all populations in North Dakota to have the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health in a manner that meets their needs. View Gov. Armstrong’s National Public Health Week proclamation.
Learn more about local public health services and find nearby local public health units at hhs.nd.gov/service-locations/local-public-health.
To find out more about how the HHS Public Health Division team is working to help North Dakota become the healthiest state in the nation visit hhs.nd.gov/health.