|
|
|
Setting Public Health Priorities
|
Business New Haven
6/24/2002
By: Melissa Nicefaro
|
Each year, the state is granted federal funds for educating its residents about major diseases and injuries. The amount the state receives is minute compared to the goals it has set for itself.
Because Connecticut's priority is working toward the goals of the national objective, codified in Looking Toward 2010: An Assessment of Health Status & Health Services, the basic award under the Preventative Health & Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG) will fund programs in cardiovascular disease, cancer, injuries, emergency medical services, surveillance/monitoring and childhood lead prevention.
The 2003 dollars will also provide for contractual funding to local health departments that target the four highest-priority health areas: cardiovascular disease, cancer, injuries and monitoring/surveillance. A rape crisis prevention program is also funded with federal funds under the Mandated Sex Offense Set Aside funds.
The funds may be used for: 1) activities that make progress toward the objectives of the national health plan; 2) rodent control and fluoridation programs (Connecticut doesn't use funds for either of these); 3) planning, establishing and expanding emergency medical services systems, although not for operational costs or equipment purchase (funds can be used for payment of up to 50 percent of the costs of purchasing communications equipment); 4) providing services for treatment of sex offenses; and 5) planning, administration, monitoring or evaluation for any of the prior mentioned criteria.
PHHSBG funds may not be used to provide inpatient services, purchase of land, buildings or medical equipment, or other proscribed uses.
For this year, Connecticut's basic appropriation was $1.8 million plus $83,396 for the rape crisis program. The estimated base for 2003 is expected to remain unchanged. The proposal was scheduled for a public hearing June 13 (after this issue went to press). The state is required to match the grant.
More important than the dollars being spent are the goals articulated by the state's Department of Public Health. By September 2003 and spending an average of $3.6 million per year, the state intends to:
- Increase the number of adults who have had their blood pressure checked in the past two years from 95.1 percent to 97 percent.
- Increase to 65 percent the number of adults who are participating in funded screening programs for having elevated levels of cholesterol who report taking action to reduce those levels. Currently 50 percent of those with elevated cholesterol levels report taking action.
- Decrease by ten percent the proportion of adults who report consuming five or more high-fat foods per day. In 2001, 95 percent of participants in funded nutrition programs reported some intent to reduce fat intake.
- Increase to 80 percent the number of people who report their intent to exercise three times a week, 30 minutes a day. In 2001, 73 percent reported doing so.
- Increase to at least 85 percent the number of people with diabetes who can identify at least three self-care practices that reduce complications.
- Increase by 25 percent the number of diabetics who are actually practicing these behaviors. In 2001, 87 percent said they were.
- Reduce smoking to no more than 15 percent of the state's population. In 1999, 22.8 percent reported being smokers. In 2000, that number was down to 19.9 percent.
- Reduce preventable mortality from trauma by five percent by ensuring delivery of rapid, coordinated emergency medical response to all emergency incidents.
- Reduce by two percent the incidence of rape in Connecticut. In 1997, there were 740 cases, 727 in 1998, 654 in 1999 and 668 in 2000.
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
