Dawona Hough, Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) program manager, keeps up the continuously updated requirements amid other fluctuations in budget and personnel involved in the program.

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) emergency response planners had no shortage of challenges when undergoing this year's Technical Assistance Review (TAR) conducted by the CDC.

Among the apparent obstacles were a decrease in funds, fewer persons onboard and a benchmark score of 95 out of 100 in 2011.

Despite the challenges, this year's report was delivered with a score of 96.

"It's always a great feeling when we can increase our level of preparedness," said Dawona Hough, Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) program manager. "We'll continue to strive to address those areas where we need improvement, but right now we are definitely in a good place."

Hough and others work year-round to prepare individuals in the state office and Georgia's 18 health districts for the TAR. The districts did exceptionally well this year with five -- North, North Georgia, Northwest, Northeast and East Metro -- scoring a perfect 100. The others were not far behind. This is particularly significant, Hough said, because all emergencies begin and end at the local level.
 
 

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) pledged its support to give more babies a healthy start in life by accepting a challenge to lower the state's preterm birth rate 8 percent by 2014.
 
The challenge, issued by David Lakey, MD, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and Texas' commissioner of Health Services, and endorsed by the March of Dimes, would lower Georgia's preterm birth rate to 11.2 percent. Presently, 12 percent of babies in Georgia are born preterm.
 
"We proudly join 48 states across the country, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and accept the challenge to lower our preterm birth rate," said DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, MD. "We know that Georgia's babies will benefit tremendously from our efforts."
 

 

Many homes end up with unwanted or expired prescription medications, including controlled substances. Getting rid of them can help prevent the misuse or abuse of these drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has coordinated drug take-back events across the country Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Consumers are encouraged to use this opportunity to safely and legally dispose of any unneeded pills, including controlled substance medications, as these pills can only be accepted for disposal when law enforcement is present.

The DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day collection site locator allows consumers to search for a convenient location to dispose of unneeded medications. New locations will be added until Sept. 29. Click here to find a site.
 
 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) this month awarded a $5.8 million renewal grant to the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD) at Clark Atlanta University.   

The five-year grant enables continuation of research, training and community outreach activities in the African-American community conducted through the CCRTD's Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer Research, Education and Community Services. Shafiq Khan, PhD., executive director of the CCRTD and Georgia Research Alliance eminent scholar, is also principal investigator of this award.   
 

Michele McMahon, emergency preparedness healthcare liaison for the department, mans the information table during the Get Ready Gwinnett! event.

The third annual Get Ready Gwinnett! Emergency Preparedness Seminar and Resource Fair was Sept. 15. The event is hosted by the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services Emergency Preparedness Committee, in partnership with the Gwinnett County Health Department, Gwinnett Health and Human Services Department, and the Gwinnett Office of Emergency Management.

"The Health Department is delighted to be a part of this event. One of the goals of our Emergency Preparedness Team is to reach everyone in our community with the message of preparedness," said Michele McMahon, emergency preparedness healthcare liaison for the department. "Participating in events such as Get Ready Gwinnett! is one way that helps us meet this goal."

This year the fair was on the campus of Annandale Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to serving adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. Annandale Village is a founding member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee.
 

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