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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998
Contact:   Damon Thompson  (202) 205-1842

Urging Americans to help develop national health objectives for the coming decade, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today released "Healthy People 2010 Objectives: Draft for Public Comment," which proposes more than 500 national objectives for improving the health of Americans by the year 2010.

"The Healthy People initiative has defined the nation's health agenda for the last two decades. It identifies the most significant opportunities to improve health and focuses public and private sector efforts on those areas," Secretary Shalala said. "At a time when consumers are expressing an unprecedented interest in decisions related to their health, our call for citizen involvement is especially fitting. To make Healthy People 2010 a success, we need to hear the ideas and the concerns of the American people."

The public comment period begins on September 15 and ends on December 15, 1998. A Healthy People 2010 Web site enables the public to view and comment on the document electronically at web.health.gov/healthypeople.

The public comment phase is a crucial component in the process of developing a final set of objectives to be released in January 2000. "I would urge the public to let your voice be heard this fall and participate in drafting 2010 objectives that will shape the nation's health agenda and guide national health improvement into the 21st Century," said Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher.

Five regional meetings will be held for public discussion: October 5-6 in Philadelphia, Pa.; October 21-22 in New Orleans, La.; November 5-6 in Chicago, Ill.; December 2-3 in Seattle Wash.; and December 9-10 in Sacramento, Calif. The Healthy People Consortium, comprised of representatives from 350 health-related membership organizations and 271 state health agencies, along with all other interested members of the public, will meet in Washington, D.C., on November 12-13, at the National Consortium meeting. Registration materials and more detailed information about the meetings can be obtained by visiting the Healthy People 2010 web site or by calling 1-800-367-4725.

Healthy People 2010 has two overarching goals: to increase quality of years and healthy life and eliminate health disparities. Objectives are organized by four categories: promote healthy behaviors; promote healthy and safe communities; improve systems for personal and public health; and prevent and reduce diseases and disorders.

The Healthy People 2010 draft supports goals proposed by the Clinton Administration's initiative to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health. This initiative sets a national goal of eliminating, by 2010, longstanding disparities in health status between white Americans and racial and ethnic minorities in six key health areas: infant mortality; cancer screening and management; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; HIV/AIDS rates; and child and adult immunization levels. The plan, announced by the President last February, includes an outreach campaign led by the Surgeon General and $400 million requested from Congress to develop new approaches and build on existing programs to address the disparities.

The Healthy People 2010 draft document may also be ordered by calling HHS' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion fax-back system at 301-468-3028.

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: www.hhs.gov.