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Announcing the National Prevention Strategy
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GOOD MORNING. WELCOME. IN A FEW MINUTES WE WILL BE STARTING THE PROGRAM SO IF YOU COULD TAKE YOUR SEATS.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. THIS IS A VERY EXCITING DAY. I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE AS WE RELEASE OUR COUNTRY'S FIRST-EVER NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. I WANT TO THANK MELODY BARNES, THE DIRECTOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL FOR HER GREAT WORK AS PART OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTION HEALTH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL AND FOR MELODY'S GREAT WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND HER COMMITMENT TOWARDS IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL AMERICANS. AND I WANT TO THANK ONE OF AMERICA'S STRONGEST ADVOCATES FOR PREVENTION AND WELLNESS WHO HAS BEEN AT THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SENATOR TOM HARKIN WHO YOU WILL HEAR FROM IN A LITTLE BIT. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHO WILL BE JOINING US TODAY, INCLUDING EPA'S ADMINISTRATOR, LISA JACKSON AND GIL KERLIKOWSKE OF THE OFFICE OF DRUG PREVENTION AND THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL'S ADVISORY GROUP, LED BY JEFF LEVY, WHO PROVIDED MUCH IMPORTANT GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. ROBERT VELASCO WHO IS WITH THE CORPORATION OF NATIONAL -- I'M SORRY. THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE WHO IS PART OF OUR COUNCIL, AND OUR INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND DEDICATED HHS TEAM. WHO HAVE BEEN LEADERS THIS INITIATIVE. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, DR. HOWARD KOH, ONE OF THE GREAT 2 RESEARCHERS AND POLICY LEADERS AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. AND OUR NATION'S DOCTOR, REGINA BENJAMIN, FOR HER LEADERSHIP AS CHAIRWOMAN OF THE COUNCIL. AS YOU CAN HEAR, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION'S FUTURE THAN THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS. IT AFFECTS THE PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR ECONOMY, OUR MILITARY READINESS, OUR STUDENT'S ABILITY TO LEARN IN SCHOOL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO LEAD FULL AND HAPPY LIVES. TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY HEALTHY IN BOTH BODY AND MIND, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AMERICANS GET THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE WHEN THEY GET SICK. BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND MOST AFFORDABLE STRATEGY FOR US TO BE A HEALTHY NATION TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING SICK IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT'S WHY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PUT A NEW FOCUS ON PREVENTION IN HIS FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE. WE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN THE MOST PROMISING COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO REDUCE CONIC DISEASE SO THOSE COMMUNITIES COULD BE ROLE MODELS FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN NEW AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT TOBACCO COMPANIES FROM USING TERMS LIKE, LITE OR MILD, WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. THIS AUTHORITY ALSO DIRECTS US TO REQUIRE WARNING LABELS ON CIGARETTE PACKS AND IN ADVERTISEMENTS THAT SHOW IN VERY GRAPHIC TERMS, WHAT SMOKE DOES TO THE HUMAN BODY. AND WITH LAST YEAR'S HISTORIC HEALTHCARE LAW, SENIORS WERE 3 GIVEN ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE SERVICES LIKE COLONOSCOPIES AND MAMMOGRAMS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST AND ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT. MANY AMERICANS, NEW AND PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PLANS, WERE GIVEN THE SAME ACCESS, ALONG WITH FREE TOBACCO CESSATION, NUTRITION COUNSELING, OTHER IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE SERVICES. ACCESS TO THESE KINDS OF LIFE-SAVING PREVENTIVE SERVICES IS NOT JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT'S THE SMART THING TO DO. IMPROVES LIVES. THE STRATEGY WE ARE ANOUNCING TODAY WILL BUILD ON COORDINATE THE DIFFERENCE. IT'S CLEAR IF WE WANT TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL AND MAKE A REAL CHANGE IN THE HEALTH OF OUR NATION, IT CAN'T JUST BE ONE DEPARTMENT DOING THE WORK. IF WE ARE GOING TO SERVE HEALTHIER SCHOOL LUNCHES, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. WE WANT TO DESIGN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE IT'S EASIER TO WORK OR BIKE AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE DOT. WE WANT TO WORK TO CREATE HEALTHIER HOMES AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. WE KNOW THAT HEALTH IS AFFECTED BY THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE WATER WE DRINK SO OUR PARTNERS AT EPA ARE ESSENTIAL. AND THAT'S WHY THERE ARE 17 FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS ON THE NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL. THAT'S WHY ALL OF US HAVE COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER TO PUT THIS STRATEGY INTO ACTION, AND MAKE SURE THAT AMERICANS ARE HEALTHY AT EVERY STAGE IN THEIR LIVES. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO THIS WORK 4 ALONE. IT TAKES THE LEADERSHIP OF STATES, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT GROUPS. IT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE A COMMITMENT FROM ALL AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW HEALTHY CHOICES THEY'LL HAVE. AND TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A HEALTHIER NATION. NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK TO COME TO THE STAGE, A GREAT HEALTH LEADER, A WONDERFUL CHAMPION FOR PREVENTIVE SERVICES, SOMEONE WHO IS OUR LEADER IN SO MANY COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS, SENATOR TOM HARKIN. [APPLAUSE]
SECONDE SEBELIUS, SURGEON GENERAL BENJAMIN AND ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON, WHO IS NOT HERE YET. DIRECTOR BARNES OFFER DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL, DIRECTOR MICHAEL KILPATRICK OF OUR OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY AND ROBERT VELASCO FOR THE CORPORATION OF NATIONAL SERVICE AND JEFF LEAFY WHO LED THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY GROUP AND FOLLOWING ON WHAT SECRETARY SEBELIUS SAID, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY KOH FOR ALL YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP. WE TAKE A MOMENTOUS STEP FORWARD TODAY IN AMERICA'S TRANSFORMATION ON THE SYSTEM TO A TRUE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. ONE THAT FOCUSES ON PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION, WELLNESS, KEEPING PEOPLE WELL AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND AS THE SECRETARY SAID, IT'S A LONG TIME GOAL OF MINE. BACK IN 1992, I MADE A BRIEF RUN FOR PRESIDENT. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IT. DON'T FEEL BAD. A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEMED TO MISS 5 THAT ONE. BUT I CAN REMEMBER THAT TIME ADVOCATING IN THE RUNNING. WE HAD POLICIES FOR EVERYTHING. SO POLICY ON HEALTH CARE THAT WAS WE HAVE A SICK CARE SYSTEM IN AMERICA AND NOT A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND WE NEED TO TRANSFORM IT. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE MEDICARE AND CUT MEDICAL COSTS, KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHNET FIRST PLACE YET WE DIDN'T FOCUS ON THAT. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME GOAL OF MINE AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. I SALUTE THE HARD WORK AND COLLABORATION OF THE SURGEON GENERAL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 17 FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES THAT COMPRISE THE NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL. IT'S NO SMALL FEAT FOR THIS MANY TEAMS COME TOGETHER ON A SINGLE STRATEGY. A APPLAUD YOUR PROGRESS AND URGE TO YOU KEEP THIS COUNCIL AND ITS WORK AMONG YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. CURRENTLY THE UNITED STATES SPENDS MORE THAN $2 THILL YON IN HEALTHCARE EVERY YEAR. BUT HISTORICALLY WE INVESTED FOUR CENTS ON EVERY DOLLAR IN PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THEY ARE AMONG THE BEST TOOLS WE HAVE TO REDUCE HEALTHCARE SPENDING IN THIS COUNTRY. FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE INVEST IN PREVENTION AND WELLNESS, WE SAVE $6 IN PROJECTED HEALTHCARE COSTS. THIS MISSED OPPORTUNITY, THE FACT THAT WE ARE SPENDING JUST PENNIES ON THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT OF HEALTH, IS WHY I LED THE EFFORT TO INCLUDE A PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH TITLE IN THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT, A KEY ELEMENT OF THIS 6 TITLE IS THE CREATION OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL. AND THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS COUNCIL IS THE DRAFTING OF THIS NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY AND OF COURSE ITS IMPLEMENTATION. ALSO IN THIS TITLE IS THE CREATION OF THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUND. A SOURCE OF MONEY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S AND STATE GOVERNMENT'S WHO ARE BEGINNING NOW TO USE THIS TO TRANSFORM THEIR COMMUNITIES INTO HEALTHIER PLACES TO LIVE AND WORK. THE TRANSFORMING OUR NATION INTO A TRUE WELLNESS SOCIETY REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONWIDE APPROACH MAKING IT EASIER FOR AMERICANS TO STAY HEALTHY. I OFTEN POSTULATED THE QUESTION, WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BE HEALTHY? SHOULDN'T IT BE EASY TO BE HEALTHY AND HARDER TO BE UNHEALTHY? IN OUR SOCIETY IT'S EASY TO BE UNHEALTHY AND HARDER TO BE HEALTHY. THE NATIONAL PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE THE APPROACH WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BE HEALTHY AND HARDER TO BE UNHEALTHY. AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LEAD THIS BY GETTING COMMUNITIES, AS I SAID ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY THAT IS THEY HAVE COME UP WITH. SO LET ME BE CLEAR THE NEW HEALTH REFORM LAW THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD THE COURAGE TO LEAD US ON, DOESN'T JUST TINKER AROUND THE EDGES, IT CHANGES THE VERY PARADIGM OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM. SO AFTER MANY YEARS OF ADVOCATING FOR WELLNESS AND PREVENTION, I'M THRILLED THAT 7 PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROMOTION ARE AT THE HEART OF THIS HISTORIC AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND ALSO AT THE HEART OF THE WORK OF SO MANY OF OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES. NOW IT'S MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE PERSON WHO WORKED WITH US DURING ALL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL, MELODY BARNES. [APPLAUSE]
GOOD MORNING. IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND FIRST, I WANT TO THANK SENATOR HARKIN FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. I NOT ONLY FROM MY PERCH AT THE WHITE HOUSE BUT FROM MY MANY YEARS IN THE SENATE, I KNOW JUST HOW DEDICATED AND PERSISTENT YOU HAVE BEEN ON THESE ISSUES AND WHAT A LEADER YOU HAVE BEEN AND WE ALL OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] AS A MEMBER OF THE PREVENTION COUNCIL, I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY AS WE UNVEIL THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AS SECRETARY SEBELIUS AND SENATOR HARKIN HAVE ALREADY DONE. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. I DO WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO SURGEON GENERAL REGINA BENJAMIN AND TO HER STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AS WELL AS THE STAFF OF THE CDC AND OF COURSE TO THE FEARLESS LEADER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 8 SERVICES, SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, WHO I BELIEVE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BEING ONE OF THE REALLY TRULY GREAT SECRETARIES OF HHS. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND OF COURSE I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS HERE. THIS IS AMERICA'S PREVENTION STRATEGY. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO EXECUTE ON IT AND TO MAKES SURE THAT IT COMES TO FRUITION FOR COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE NATION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND ALL THE WORK THAT IS TO COME TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS IMPLEMENTED WELL. YOU KNOW, SEVEN-TEN DEATHS AMONG AMERICANS EACH YEAR COME FROM CHRONIC DISEASES. SUCH AS CANCER AND HEART DISEASE. AND ALMOST 1-2 ADULTS HAS AT LEAST ONE CHRONIC DISEASE. RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES SUFFER AT EVEN HIGHER RATES. WITH OBESITY AND CANCER, AND AIDS, AND OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES. AND WE ALSO KNOW AND OF COURSE WE ARE VERY DEEPLY CONCERNED BY WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH OUR CHILDREN. ONE OUT OF ALMOST EVERY THREE CHILDREN IS DEEMED TO BE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE IN OUR COUNTRY. THINK ABOUT THAT. AND THEN THAT RATE HAS TRIPLED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. BUT WE CAN PREVENT MANY OF THESE DISEASES, IT JUST TAKES US ALL WORKING TOGETHER. PRESIDENT OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA BELIEVE THAT WHEN 9 WE FOCUS ON PREVENTING DISEASE AND ILLNESS, WE WILL HAVE A HEALTHIER NATION AND WE WILL ALSO REDUCE OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS. AND EVERYONE, WHETHER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT, EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYEE, AND PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE KNOW THAT PREVENTION WORKS. THAT'S WHY FROM THE RECOVERY ACT TO THE FIRST LADY'S LET'S MOVE CAMPAIGN TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN LAYING A FOUNDATION TO HELP TRANSFORM OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS SENATOR HARKIN SAID, FROM A SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON TREATING THE SICK TO ONE THAT FOCUSES ON KEEPING EVERY AMERICAN HEALTHY. AND WE ARE ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY, MANY AMERICANS. THANKS TO HEALTH REFORM, IF YOU'RE NOW IN A NEW INSURANCE PLAN OR ON MEDICARE, YOU CAN GET PREVENTIVE SERVICES AS SECRETARY SEBELIUS WAS SAYING, WITHOUT OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. SCHOOL ARE STEPPING FORWARD TRANSFORMING THEIR NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL AND ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENTS AS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S HEALTHIER U.S. SCHOOLS CHALLENGE, AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THESE ARE THESE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE ARE SO PROUD OF BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND MOVE COMMUNITIES, BUT BOTH SECTORS COMMITTED TO MAKING CHANGES IN OUR CHILD CARE SYSTEM TO GIVE YOUNG CHILDREN'S HEALTHY START IN LIFE. SO THROUGH, LET'S MOVE CHILD CARE, HAVE YOU THE BRIGHT HORIZONS, THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST CHILD CARE PROVIDER, 10 ALONG WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, ALONG WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION COMMITTING TO PROVIDE BETTER NUTRITION AND SUPPORT ONE TO TWO HOURS OF REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ALL -- THAT IS 100% -- OF THEIR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. PREVENTION SHOULD BE WOVEN INTO ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES INCLUDING WEAR AND HOW WE LIVE LEARN, WORK AND PLAY. EVERYONE, BUSINESSES, EDUCATORS, HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITIES AND EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN HAS A ROLE IN CREATING A HEALTHIER NATION. AND THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY WE ARE ROLLING OUT TODAY OUTLINES A FRAMEWORK TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT THAT COMES FRUITION. THE STRATEGY BRINGS TOGETHER THE BEST SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO HIGH LIGHT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND FAMILIES HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE. AND WHEN WE DO, WE KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL BE HEALTHIER, ALL OF US ADULTS IN THIS ROOM WILL SPEND LESS TIME IN OUR DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND BUSINESSES WILL BENEFIT FROM A HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE AND STABLE WORKFORCE. HELPING AMERICANS LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY IS CRITICAL TO OUR EFFORTS. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL THAT WE WILL DO TOGETHER AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE SURGEON GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, REGINA BENJAMIN, AND AS 11 AMERICA'S DOCTOR -- I LOVE SAYING THAT. AMERICA'S DOCTOR. SHE HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON PREVENTION AND WELLNESS SINCE SHE ARRIVED AND HER LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR OF THE PREVENTION COUNCIL HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO BRINGING US HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COUNCIL AND YOUR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT ON BEING ON THE COUNCIL IN THE WHITE HOUSE'S COMMITMENT TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS TO PREVENTION. TO SENATOR HARKIN, SECRETARY SEBELIUS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMITMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND RECOGNIZE THEM. THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR CDC IS THE WITH US. YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAND UP IF YOU LIKE. RON SIMONS -- [APPLAUSE]
RON SIMONS, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. DR. HOWARD KOH -- [APPLAUSE] ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH. [APPLAUSE] DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF COUNCIL ON CNCS. [APPLAUSE] ROBERT PENCIL, THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRS. [APPLAUSE] AND A VERY BIG, BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY THE 80 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SENT A LETTER OF SUPPORT 12 FOR THIS -- FOR OUR EFFORT. YOU REALLY WORKED WITH US TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. AS SURGEON GENERAL, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THE NATIONAL PREVENTION HEALTH PROMOTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. AND AFTER MONTHS OF STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT WITH SEVERAL ITERATIONS AND TREMENDOUS INPUT FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS, THE COUNCIL IS REALLY PLEASED TO RELEASE THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. THIS IS AMERICA'S PLAN FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. OUR VISION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES. BY WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, BY MOVING THE NATION FROM A FOCUS ON SICKNESS AND DISEASE TO A FOCUS ON WELLNESS AND PREVENTION. IF WE TRULY WANT TO REFORM HEALTHCARE IN OUR COUNTRY, WE NEED TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING SICK IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO STOP THE ILLNESS AND STOP THE DISEASE BEFORE IT EVER STARTS. IN ADDITION TO THE STATE-OF-THE-ART MEDICINE, WE NEED A NEW APPROACH TO PROMOTING THE PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SUSTAINED HEALTHY DEPENDS ON OTHER FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE OUR HEALTH LIKE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY, AFFORDABLE FOODS, OUR WORKPLACE, AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY. AND THAT CALLS FOR THE NATION TO TAKE A MORE WHOLISTIC AND 13 INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY HEALTH. EVERYTHING FROM SAFE HIGHWAYS TO WORK SITE WELLNESS PROGRAMS TO CLEAN AIR AND HEALTHY FOODS. THE GOAL OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO ARE HEALTHY AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FOUR STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS. ONE IS HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS. WE THAN PREVENTION OF DISEASE AND WELL-BEING IS NOT ONLY IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE BUT ALSO IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR HOMES. ANOTHER AREA IS CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY PREVENTIVE SERVICES. WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE, PEOPLE RECEIVE PREVENTIVE CARE, SUCH AS IMMUNIZATIONS AND CANCER SCREENINGS, THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT HEALTH AS WE PICK UP THE ILLNESSES AND TREAT THEM EARLIER. AND THAT OFTEN SAVES COSTS IN LOTS OF DOLLARS IN THE LONG RUN. WE WANT TO EMPOWER PEOPLE. WE NEED TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS AND THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. AS WE SAID, WE MAY NEED TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES EASY AND AFFORDABLE CHOICES. IN JUST A WEEK OR TWO AGO, WE WERE AT THE USDA TO REVEAL THE NEW ICON. IT'S A SIMPLE TOOL TO GIVE AMERICANS TO USE TO SIMPLY FIND A WAY TO LOOK AT YOUR PLATE AND THE SAY, HALF OF IT CAN BE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF TOOLS WE NEED TO MAKE THINGS EASIER AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO MAKE THOSE 14 HEALTHY CHOICES. OF COURSE WE NEED TO ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES. AND BY ELIMINATING HEALTH DISPARITIES, WE CAN HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL AMERICANS. WE KNOW THAT THE FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH ARE LARGELY PREVENTABLE. HEART DISEASE, STROKE, CRONKER LOWER RESPIRATORY DISEASE, CANCER AND UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES. SO WE SET SEVEN PRIORITIES AREAS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO REDUCE OR PREVENT THOSE FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH. AND THOSE ARE, TOBACCO-FREE LIVING, PREVENTION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, HEALTHY EATING, ACTIVE LIVING, INJURY AND VIOLENCE-FREE LIVING, REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL MENTAL HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING. THESE ARE ALL AREAS THAT IF WE FOLLOW, WE CAN BECOME A MORE HEALTHY AND FIT NATION. WE WANT TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT ALMOST EVERYTHING WE DO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT LABELED HEALTH OR PREVENTION, REAL DOES HE AFFECT THE HEALTH, QUALITY AND LENGTH OF LIFE OF ALL AMERICANS. THIS STRATEGY IS JUST THE BEGINNING. IT'S OUR CONFERENCE TO GUIDE OUR PATH TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS. NOW LET US BEGIN THAT JOURNEY AND LET US HAVE FUN DOING IT. I WANT TO NOW INTRODUCE THE EPA ADMINISTRATOR, LISA JACKSON. AND IF YOU -- COME ON UP. IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT, THERE IS A WONDERFUL ARTICLE ON HER IN O MAGAZINE THIS MONTH. 15 IT'S VERY WELL DONE AND VERY EMOTIONAL. I RECOMMEND YOU LOOK AT IT. SHE IS A STAR. [APPLAUSE]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT'S STILL MORNING, I THINK. FIRST, THANKS TO MY DEAR COLLEAGUE, REGINA BENJAMIN. SOUTHERN GIRL. SOUTHERN WOMAN, I SHOULD SAY, LIKE MYSELF. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. BUT LET ME START BY ALSO GIVING MY THANKS AND GREETINGS TO MY CABINET COLLEAGUE, I THINK SHE JUST HAD TO RUN, SECRETARY SEBELIUS. AND ACTUALLY EVERYONE AT HHS FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND LEADERSHIP IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. TO SENATOR HARKIN, VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL, SIR. QUITE A VOICE ON THESE ISSUES ON HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE AND TO MY FRIEND, DIRECTOR MELODY BARNES WHO HAD TO RUN. HOWARD KOH IS HERE AND RON SIMS, WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE AS WELL IN ALL THE WORK HE IS DOING. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD REASONS FOR EPA AND FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY. LOTS OF REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON PREVENTION. WHAT THOSE REASONS BOIL DOWN TO ME AS HEAD OF THE EPA IS, AT ROUTE, THAT EPA IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY. OUR MISSION IS TO SAFEGUARD THE ENVIRONMENT. AND OFTEN WHEN YOU JUST SAY THAT PART OF OUR MISSION, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT LAKES AND OPEN SPACES AND BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN OUR COUNTRY. BUT EPA'S WORK IS BROADER THAN THAT AND IT'S MORE IMMEDIATE THAN THAT FOR MANY AMERICANS. 16 WE ALSO HAVE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AS PART OF OUR MISSION. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR AIR AND OUR WATER AND OUR LAND, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING THE AIR WE ALL BREATHE. THE WATER THAT WE DRINK, THE LAND WHERE WE BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES OUR SCHOOLS OUR CHURCHES, OUR HOMES. SO IT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PREVENTION STRATEGY TO REMEMBER EPA'S ROLE AND HOW HAPPY WE ARE TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT. ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED ON PROTECTING AMERICANS IS IN AIR QUALITY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME ON TODAY WITH THIS CROWD. EPA'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH BY REDUCING AIR POLLUTION AFFECT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS EACH AND EVERY DAY. I SUMMERY KNOW THIS PERSONALLY. MY SON, BRIAN, 14 NOW, BUT HE SUFFERED WITH ASTHMA ALL HIS LIFE. IT IS A FACT THAT POLLUTION, LIKE MERCURY, AND SMOG, AND FINE PARTICLES SHORTEN AND REDUCE THE QUALITY OF AMERICAN'S LIVES. THEY PUT AT RISK THE HEALTH OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE KNOW THAT MERCURY IS A TOXIN THAT CAUSES NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE TO ADULTS, TO CHILDREN AND TO DEVELOPING FETUSES. WE KNOW THAT MERCURY CAUSES NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE LIKE LOST IQ POINTS IN CHILDREN. AND WE KNOW PARTICULAR LAT MATTER LEADS TO RESPIRATORY DISEASE, DECREASED LUNG FUNCTIONING AND EVEN PREMATURE DEATH. IT'S MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 17 AND DISEASE PREVENTION. AND THAT WE DON'T FALL BACK AND WEAKEN THE PROTECTIONS WE ALREADY HAVE HAD IN PLACE FOR DECADES. NOW THERE IS GOOD NEWS AND IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE REASONS FOR EPA TO BE, AND THAT IS THAT AIR POLLUTION, LIKE MANY OTHER TYPES OF POLLUTION, HAS A SOLUTION. IT'S THE CLEAN AIR ACT, A LAW PASS BIDE CONGRESS IN 1970, POINTED OUT BIPARTISAN EFFORT. MOST OF OUR NATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. SOCIETY IDEA OF THE PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AS I SAY, WHEN I SPEAK, A VERY AMERICAN IDEA. ONE THAT WE INSIST THAT AS WE GROW, AS WE HAVE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, IT DOESN'T COME AT THE COST OF OUR HEALTH. LAST YEAR ALONE, THE CLEAN AIR ACT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE SAVED 160,000 LIVES AND PREVENTED MORE THAN 100,000 HOSPITAL VISITS. TODAY WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT TWO RECENT INITIATIVES. ON MARCH 16, AFTER 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING, EPA PROPOSED THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MERCURY AND TOXINS FROM POWER PLANTS. WHILE MANY POWER PLANTS IN OUR COUNTRY ALREADY COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS THAT WE PROPOSED, SOME DO NOT. OVER HALF COMPLY BUT SOME DO NOT. AND THESE STANDARDS WILL HELP NOW LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. MEANING WE'LL HAVE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MERCURY AND AIR TOXIC EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS. DEPLOYMENT OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES 18 WILL PREVENT AN ESTIMATED 17,000 PREMATURE DEATHS, 11,000 HEART ATTACKS, 120,000 CASES OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA, 11,000 CASES OF ACUTE BRONCHITIS AMONG CHILDREN, 12,000 AMERICAN SEE ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND 850,000 DAYS OF WORK DUE TO MISSED ILLNESS IN A SINGLE YEAR. THIS RULE IS GOING THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT. IT WAS DEVELOPED AFTER HEARING FROM A RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS. AS WE WORK ON MERCURY AND OTHER TOXINS, EPA ALSO TRYING TO REDUCE TWO OTHER IMPORTANT POLLUTANTS. SULFER DIOXIDE AND NITROGEN OXIDE THROUGH THE CLEAN AIR TRANSPORT RULE. THIS RULE REQUIRES 31 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO REDUCE THEIR EMISSIONS OF THESE TWO POLLUTANTS. THOSE ARE THE POLLUTEANTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OZONE, GROUND LEVEL SMOG AND FINE PARTICLE POLLUTION ACROSS STATE LINES. THEREBY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IN CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. UTILITIES CAN ACHIEVE THESE REDUCTIONS BY INVESTING IN WIDELY AVAILABLE AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY AND AMERICAN WORKERS. THE CLEAN AIR TRANSPORT RULE WILL RESULT IN $120 BILLION IN HEALTH BENEFITS EACH YEAR. EPA ESTIMATES WHICH ARE VERY GOOD AND PEER REVIEW, INCLUDE 14-36,000 PREMATURE DEATHS AVOIDED. TWENTY-ONE,000 CASES OF ACUTE BRONCHITIS AVOIDED. TWENTY-THREE,000 NONFATAL HEART ATTACKS PREVENTED. AGGRAVATED ASTHMA AVOIDED. UPPER AND LOWER RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS PREVENTED. 19 HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS PREVENTED. MISSED SCHOOL OR WORK DUE TO WORK OF ILLNESS AVOIDED. THOSE ARE NUMBER THAT IS REPRESENT A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LITERALLY MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY WORKING FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND OLDER AMERICANS. AN ESTIMATED COST OF $65 BILLION IN THAT SAME YEAR. A BENEFIT TO COST RATIO OF MORE THAN 30-1. SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AFTER 40 YEARS, EPA REMAINS FOCUSED ON MISSION TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH BY REMOVING AND PREVENTING POLLUTION IN OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE WANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO BE AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION THAT CAN HELP KEEP MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HEALTHY. WE ARE EXITED AND THRILLED TO PARTNER WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDRESSING YOU TODAY BECAUSE WE CAN MAGNIFY THEIR EFFORTS AND OUR EFFORTS, DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY, MORE COST EFFECTIVELY, FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. AND, I THINK IT FALSE TO ME NOW TO INTRODUCE GIL KERLIKOWSKE, OMDCP DIRECTOR. [APPLAUSE]
WHAT A GREAT ARRAY OF PEOPLE HERE AT HHS. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY. AND SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT AND WORK INTO THIS PREVENTION STRATEGY. LET ME MENTION A COUPLE OF PARTICULARLY IDOLS OF MINE. SENATOR HARKIN, WHO I HAVE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS AND WHO WORKED SO 20 HARD ON THESE ISSUES. SECRETARY SEBELIUS FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON PUBLIC HEALTH. BALANCING PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADVOCATING FOR THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS ONE THE PRESIDENT'S GREATEST EFFORTS TO REDUCE DRUG USE IN ITS CONSEQUENCES IN AMERICA. THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY, WHICH IS BEING RELEASED TODAY, REALLY GOES HAND-IN-HAND, FITS VERY WELL WITH THE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY. IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PREVENTION A PRIORITY. RESEARCH ON PREVENTION PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST DECADE, IS SHOWN THAT SUBSTANCE USE SHARES MANY OF THE SAME RISK PATHWAYS AS OTHER BEHAVIORS LIKE AGGRESSION IN SCHOOLS AND POOR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. WE THAN THESE UNIQUE RISK FACTORS ALSO APPLY TO YOUTH ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE. FOR INSTANCE, PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND SIBLINGS, FRIENDS, WHO HAVE FAVORABLE ATTITUDES TOWARDS SUBSTANCE USE, WHERE THEY HAVE A LOW PERCEPTION OF THE RISK THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAUSES OR THEY HAVE EASY AVAILABILITY OF THESE SUBSTANCES, ALL AFFECT OUR YOUTH. TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC RISK FACTORS, WE NEED TARGETED INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUTH DRUG PREVENTION AND OUR ANTIDRUG YOUTH MEDIA CAMPAIGN IS ONE EXAMPLE. THE RECENT EVALUATIONS BY THE WAY, OF THAT CAMPAIGN, PEER REVIEW IN RECENTLY PUBLISHED REPORTS, SHOW YOUTH EXPOSED TO THESE ADS ARE MORE RESISTANT TO 21 ABUSING DRUGS THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED. DRUG PREVENTION IS COMPREHENSIVE AND INCLUDES EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS, SOUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES, SUCH AS THOSE GIVEN AS EXAMPLE TODAY AND POLICIES TO ENFORCE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR SUBSTANCE-RELATED OFFENSES. DRUG ABUSE AND EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL USE ARE A MAJOR PRIORITY AREA IN THIS NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. AND WHEN DIRECTLY ADDRESSED, WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING THE IMPACT OF ALL OF THESE AS A MAJOR PREVENTABLE DISEASE PHASED BY AMERICANS. THIS IS A CRUCIAL TIME FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION. YOU WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN YOUTH DRUG USE OVER THE PAST YEAR. ONE AREA OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THE ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAVE CALLED PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AN EPIDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY. IN SIX OF THE TOP TEN DRUGS, ABUSED BY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WERE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. DRUG USE HAMPERS OUR ABILITY TO OUT EDUCATE OUR GLOBAL COMPETITORS. STUDENTS WHO USE DRUGS ARE REALLY LESS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. AND DRUG USE IS AS THE SECRETARY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AWFUL THESE THINGS STRAIN OUR ECONOMY, OUR HEALTHCARE AND OUR CRIMINAL JUDGE SYSTEM. AND WE THAN THAT EFFECTIVE DRUG PREVENTION HOLDS THE KEY TO HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR OUR NATION AND FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN DRUG PREVENTION, UP TO $10 IN 22 TREATMENT COSTS CAN BE SAVED. AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THOSE WHO REACH 21 WITHOUT DEVELOPING AN ADDICTION TO DRUGS, ARE HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO SUFFER ANY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM LATER IN LIFE. WHAT A SMART THING PREVENTION IS. WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS, WE CAN USE PREVENTION TO PRODUCE MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR FAMILIES. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ROB ROBERT VELASCO, THE ACTING CEO FOR THE CORPORATION OF NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU DIRECTOR GIL KERLIKOWSKE. DR. BENJAMIN, SECRETARY SEBELIUS, MELODY BARNES, ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON AND SENATOR HARKIN, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU AT HHS WHERE I STARTED MY FEDERAL SERVICE, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RELEASE OF THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. A BLUEPRINT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BECOME A MORE HEALTHY AND FIT NATION. I WANT TO THANK THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND STAFF FROM THE 17 FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT COMPRISE THE NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL WHO HAVE LABORED OVER THE PAST YEAR TO DEVELOP THIS COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY. THIS IS A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF COOPERATION AND COORDINATION ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WHILE THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY RESULTED FROM THE HARD WORK OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS NOT 23 A FEDERAL STRATEGY. IT IS A NATIONAL STRATEGY. ONE THAT CALLS ALSO SECTORS OF SOCIETY TO PLAY A ROLE IN BUILDING A HEALTHIER AMERICA. THIS STRATEGY RECOGNIZES THAT MANY OF THE BEST SOLUTIONS COME FROM OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, D.C. IT IS BUILT IN THE IDEA THAT PROGRESS IS BEST MADE NOT BY GOVERNMENT ACTING ALONE BUT BY GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH EVERY DAY CITIZENS TO IMPROVE OUR NATION'S HEALTH. WE KNOW THIS APPROACH WORKS BECAUSE IT IS BEHIND EVERYTHING WE DO AT THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, THE FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTING NATIONAL SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM. EVERY YEAR, WE ENGAGE MORE THAN 5 MILLION AMERICANS IN TACKLING LOCAL PROBLEMS TO RESULTS-DRIVEN SERVICE. WE INVEST IN CITIZENS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, TAPPING THE ENERGY AND INGINUITY OF OUR GREATEST RESOURCE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. MANY OF OUR GRANTEES AND PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ALREADY HEAVILY ENGAGED IN HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION WORK THAT DIRECTLY ALLIANCE WITH THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND PRIORITIES OUTLINED IN THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, TO CARRY OUT THE VISION OF THIS STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR NATION AND MOVE FROM A FOCUS ON SICKNESS AND DISEASE TO ONE BASED ON PREVENTION AND WELLNESS. IN FACT, CREATING HEALTHY 24 FUTURES IS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES OF OUR AGENCY'S NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, ADOPTED A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE ARE FOCUSING ON THREE KEY HEALTH GOALS. IMPROVING ACCESS TO PRIMARY AND PREVENTION HEALTHCARE, PREVENTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND HELPING OLDER AMERICANS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. WE WILL WORK TOWARDS THESE AND OTHER HEALTH GOALS BY INVESTING IN EFFECTIVE LOCAL INITIATIVES, ENGAGING MORE AMERICANS IN SERVICE, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND LEVERAGING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. I'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW CITIZENS ARE ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HEALTH PROMOTION THROUGH NATIONAL SERVICE. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TRAINED RSVP VOLUNTEERS FROM THE BONE BUILDERS PROGRAM LEAVE SPECIAL EXERCISE CLASSES FOR SENIORS TO HELP PREVENT OR SLOW THE OSTEOPOROSIS PROCESS. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MORE THAN 500 MEMBERS SERVING WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH EFFORTS ASSISTED 1.2 MILLION MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED PEOPLE LAST YEAR. HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, EDUCATING THEM ON DISEASE PREVENTION, AND PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES. VOLUNTEERS IN OUR SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAMS HELP MORE THAN 675,000 FRAIL SENIORS LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENTS THEIR HOMES AND AS PART OF THE LETS MOVE INITIATIVE, WE ARE TEAMING UP WITH NIKE TO PLACE NATIVE-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO 25 PROMOTE EXERCISE AND HEALTHY EATING IN NATIVE YOUTH. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF EMPOWERED CITIZENS JOINING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES. AND THESE ACTS WILL MULTIPLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL PREVENTION STRATEGY. GETTING CITIZENS ENGAGED IMPROVES OUR NATION'S HEALTH IN ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT WAY. MEDICAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT VOLUNTEERING LEADS TO IMPROVED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. VOLUNTEERS LIVE LONGER AND HAVE HIGHER FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, LOWER RATES OF DEPRESSION AND LES INCIDENTS OF HEART DISEASE. VOLUNTEERISM IS GOOD FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR COUNTRY. YOU CAN FIND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT FIT YOUR INTEREST AND LOCATION BY VISITING WWW.SERVE.GOV. NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DR. JEFFREY LEVI WHO SERVICE AS CHAIR OF THE GROUP ON PUBLIC HEALTH. HE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH ON AMERICA'S HEALTH. HE CHAIR ACE VERY IMPRESSIVE GROOVE OF LEADERS PROVIDING RECOMMENDATION TO THE NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL. JEFF LEVI. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, ROBERT. AND THANK YOU SECRETARY SEBELIUS, SENATOR HARKIN, WITHOUT WHOM WE WOULD NOT BE HERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY, AND OF COURSE THE SURGEON GENERAL IN LEADING THIS EFFORT. BUT I PARTICULARLY LIKE TO THANK THE NON-HHS COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE TODAY. 26 BECAUSE WHAT TODAY REALLY IS ABOUT IS MAKING A HISTORIC STATEMENT THAT HEALTH IS PART OF THE MISSION OF EVERY PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT, OF EVERY AGENCY THAT SERVES ON THE NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, AS A GOVERNMENT, EVERY AGENCY HAS COME TOGETHER TO SAY THAT OUR NATION HAS TO MOVE FROM A FOCUS ON SICKNESS AND DISEASE TO PREVENTION AND WELLNESS. THIS SIGNALS A MAJOR SHIFT IN HOW WE THINK ABOUT HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY. QUITE SIMPLY, PREVENTION IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF AMERICA. THE STRATEGY PUTS OUT A PATHWAY TOWARDS IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE STRATEGY COMMITS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DOING ITS PART IN ASSURING THAT ALL AMERICANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AS HEALTHY AS THEY CAN BE. WHERE WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND PLAY, ALL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR HEALTH. BUT THE STRATEGY WILL ONLY WORK IF ALL OF US INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT, AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, COME TOGETHER AS THE PREVENTION COUNCIL HAS COME TOGETHER, AND THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY PART OF OUR SOCIETY, FROM TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING TO LABOR AND DEFENSE, CAN HELP IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THIS IS A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION. IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS STRATEGY THE RIGHT WAY, WE CAN IMPROVE HEALTH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVING HOUSING, EDUCATION, 27 THE ECONOMY, PRODUCTIVITY AND MILITARY READINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE THAT THE PUBLIC OVERWHELMINGLY AGREE THAT IS PREVENTION OF ILLNESS HAS BEEN NEGLECTED IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND YOU NO MUST RECEIVE TOP PRIORITY. THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP. A NECESSARY FIRST STEP BUT NOW THE HARD WORK BEGINS. WE HAVE TO TRANSLATE THE STRATEGY INTO SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION AND STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE STRATEGY REALLY DELIVERS ON THE TRANSFORMATION IT ENVISIONS. I KNOW I'M SPEAKING FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE ADVISORY GROUP ON PREVENTION IN SAYING THAT WE STAND COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE PREVENTION COUNCIL AND THE AGENCIES IT REPRESENTS TO SEE THAT THIS STRATEGY IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THAT WE BUILD SUPPORT FOR IT AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND FRANKLY TO HOLD THE COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION SO WE CAN FULFILL THE PROMISE OF A HEALTHIER AMERICA. NOW I'D LIKE TO BRING BACK SURGEON GENERAL BENJAMIN, WHO IS OUR LEADER. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU. YOU HEARD FROM SOME VERY COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS. I'D LIKE TO CALL UP FOLKS TO HELP US HERE. GIL KERLIKOWSKE, ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, DR. HOWARD KOH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, AND ANDREW REIN, CDC. WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP FOR A SECOND. ANDREW IS OUR EXPERT HERE 28 BECAUSE ANDREW HAS LED THE EFFORT FROM CDC TO PULL THIS TOGETHER SO WE ARE GOING TO TURN OVER ALL THOSE TECHNICAL THINGS TO HIM. I AM REALTY GRATEFUL FOR ANDREW AND HIS TEAM FOR DOING ALL THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE IN BRINGING THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. SO WE WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS. WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP TO THE MICROPHONE, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE A LOT OF THE GROUPS HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I KNOW ARE NOT SHY.
HI, EVERYONE. I'M LARRY KOHN, FROM THE PREVENTION INSTITUTE FROM OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY. I'D LIKE TO SAY HOW THRILLED WE AND ARE HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY. COMING FROM CALIFORNIA, I'M WONDERING AS JUST ONE STATE, WHAT WE CAN REALLY DO TO IMPLEMENT AND TO ADVANCE THESE EFFORTS?
FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU. I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF VISITING YOUR FACILITY IN CALIFORNIA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND AGO AND YOU'RE A TREMENDOUS LEADER. WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO WELL IN CALIFORNIA IS SEND A MESSAGE THAT THIS ALL BEGINS IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S ALL THE FORCES THAT ARE WELL OUTSIDE OF DOCTOR'S OFFICES. YOU HEARD EACH SPEAKER STATE. SO, MAKING THIS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE COMMITTED TO THE PREVENTION MESSAGE IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR 29 LEADERSHIP. AND WHILE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE, I ALSO WANTED TO INTRODUCE ONE MORE VIP IN THE AUDIENCE. IT'S TREMENDOUS WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DR. JONATHAN WOOD SON. A GREAT PREVENTION CHAMPION FOR DOD. JOHN, JUST STAND UP HERE. [APPLAUSE]
A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT DRUG PROBLEMS AND THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROBLEM IN VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, PARTS OF OHIO IS TRULY REACHING THAT EPIDEMIC. IN THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY WHICH ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK IN HARMONY TOGETHER, WE HAVE A SERIES OF MEASURES TO REDUCE DRUG USE AND ABUSE. NOT ONLY AMONG PEOPLE. RECENTLY THE PRESIDENT WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SIGNED THE TAKE-BACK LEGISLATION TO HELP AMERICA BE ABLE TO GET RID OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT ARE IN THEIR MEDICINE CABINETS, WHICH IS THE SOURCE, AS SO MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM WELL KNOW. IT IS THE SOURCE OF OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROBLEM. BUT WE HAVE A SERIES OF MEASURES AND I THINK THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT HAS TO BE RELEASED BY THIS COUNCIL UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SURGEON GENERAL, WILL GIVE A REPORT BACK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ALL DOING TOGETHER AND FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS MEASURE IN THIS ISSUE, WITHOUT ALL OF THIS WORKING TOGETHER.
CAN I ADD I'M VERY PLEASED THIS STRATEGY BUILDS ON THE 30 FOUNDATION OF HEALTHY PEOPLE AND HEALTHY PEOPLE HAVE SO MANY GOALS FOR THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE UPDATED EVERY TEN YEARS. SO HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 IS A WONDERFUL FOUNDATION FOR THESE FOLLOWING INDICATORS.
AND WE HAVE USED IN THE STRATEGY, YOU'LL SEE, BOTH FOR THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF INCREASING HEALTH OF AMERICANS AT EVERY STAGE IN LIFE AND FOR EACH STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND PRIORITY, A SUBSET OF HEALTHY PEOPLE, PRIMARILY HEALTHY PEOPLE MEASURE THAT IS WILL BE TRACKED EVERY YEAR TO MONITOR THAT PROGRESS AND WHAT IS MANDATING LEGISLATION, SMARTLY TO HOLD US ALL ACCOUNTABLE IS WE REPORT ON AN ANNUAL STATUS REPORT DUE JULY 1 OF EVERY YEAR BY THE COUNCIL, THE PROGRESS ON THOSE MEASURES.
SO HAVE YOU TWO WEEKS TO GET THE JOB DONE.
[LAUGHTER]
ONE WEEK.
THAT'S WHY TOMORROW WE START.
SO ACTUALLY THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO ARE HEALTHY AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE. WE PICKED THOSE STAGES OF LIFE AND HAVE SOME ACTUAL GOALS AND PERCENTAGES OF IMPROVEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NUMBER OF PREMATURE BIRTHS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING TO BE 85. SO THOSE MEASURES ARE THERE IN THE DOCUMENT FOR YOU. AND WE WILL BE RELEASING THE REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO SELECT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS NEXT WEEK.
HI, MED PAGE TODAY. I WONDERED IF SOMEONE COULD TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT IS GOING TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING 31 THE PREVENTION STRATEGY.
THERE IS NO FUNDING DIRECTLY TIED TO THE STRATEGY ITSELF. MANY OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING AND PROPOSING TO DO, WE CAN DO ALREADY. THERE IS A PREVENTION FUND THAT WE HOPE THAT THIS STRATEGY WILL GUIDE. AND DR. KOH OR ANDREW MAY WANT TO AD TO THAT.
THE KEY STRATEGY THAT PRESENTS -- AS YOU READ IT YOU WILL SEE -- IT PROVIDES A GUIDE TO ALIGN OUR ACTIVITIES THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING IN SOME PARTS AND A NEW ACTIVITY ON THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS AND PRIORITIES. SO WE BASE PREVENTION INTO ALL THOSE ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE CAN REALLY MAXIMIZE THE HEALTH VALUE OF OUR PREVENTION EFFORTS AND OUR OTHER EFFORTS ACROSS THE SOCIETY.
GOOD MORNING. JESSICA, MODERN HEALTHCARE MAGAZINE. THE PREVENTION WE ALL KNOW, SAVES AND REDUCES HEALTHCARE COSTS. I WOULD LIKE SOME OF YOU TO LAY OUT SOME SPECIFICS OF THAT, PLEASE.
I THINK THE CORRECT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS, THAT PREVENTION SAVES LIVES AND IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE. IN SOME INSTANCES PREVENTION WILL SAVE MONEY AND IN OTHER INSTANCES WE ARE NOT SO SURE THAT. DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT WORTH THE INVESTMENT. IF THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A POPULATION THAT IS HEALTHY -- AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE, LEAD A HIGH QUALITY OF AND AS PRODUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE, THEN PREVENTION DOES 32 SAVE F YOU'RE LOOKING JUST WITHIN THE LENSE OF HEALTHCARE COSTS, IT DEPENDS ON THE INTERVENTION. AND THE TRUTH OF MATTER IS, WE PROBABLY HAVEN'T DONE AS GOOD A JOB AS WE COULD IN DOCUMENTING THAT. WE DID SOME WORK WITH THE URBAN INSTITUTE ECONOMISTS N. TRYING TO MODEL WHAT COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION, THE KINDS OF POLICY THAT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN A STRATEGY AS HELPING PEOPLE MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES, WILL THOSE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HEALTHCARE COSTS? WE THINK THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY YES. BUT I THINK THE EMPHASIS IS ON PROBABLY. WE HAVEN'T STUDIED THIS SYSTEMATICALLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE PREVENTION FUND IS THERE, IS THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO SAY, WE WILL ONLY DO PREVENTION BECAUSE IT SAVES MONEY. WE ARE DOING PREVENTION BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF THE LIVES OF AMERICANS.
DOCTOR, YOU SAID THAT WELL. BUT TWO SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WHERE PREVENTION SAVES LIVES AND MONEY ARE IN TOBACCO CONTROL AND CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS. SO WE NEED MORE RESEARCH THE WAY DR. LEVI SAID, BUT WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE EXAMPLES LIKE THAT THAT SAVE LIVES AND MONEY FOR OUR SOCIETY.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THESE LAST QUESTIONS. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ABOUT MAKING US A HEALTHIER AND FIT NATION. AND IT'S INTUITIVE THAT YOU DON'T GET SICK, YOU'RE GOING TO 33 BE BETTER OFF. EITHER YOU SAVE MONEY OR YOU SAVE HEARTACHE AND DISEASE AND MENTAL ANGUISH. THERE IS PHASES THERE. THERE ARE BENEFITS. AND SO IT'S TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOT TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS.
THANK YOU. ROB MORE SON SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DIRECTORS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE AND EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL ABUSE AS A TOP PRIORITY. WE THINK THIS IS A KEY ISSUE AS THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE STATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE WANT TO PLEDGE OUR DESIRE TO WORK WITH YOU DIRECTLY AND IN PARTICULAR ON UNDERAGED DRINKING AND I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU COULD OFFER TODAY ON THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC AS WELL SO THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW FOR US AND IN THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY, IT DOES TALK ABOUT UNDERAGED DRINKING. RESEARCH -- WE ARE ALL CITING RESEARCH. RESEARCH CONTINUES TO COME OUT ABOUT THE DANGERS OF BINGE DRINKING. WHEN IT MAKES THE FRONT COVER OF "PARADE" MAGAZINE, THE MOST WIDELY RED PUBLICATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN OUR COLLEGES, TEAMING TOGETHER AND WORKING WITH THE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OUR OFFICE AND OTHERS TO WORK WITH THESE COLLEGES AND 34 UNIVERSITIES, AND NEXT MONTH WE WILL BE TALKING TO THE PRESIDENT. SO THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, THEY ARE ALL WANTING TO SEE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ACHIEVE SO MUCH MORE THROUGH THEIR EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS THAN THE BINGE DRINKING ISSUE, IT'S ONE THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT, MAYBE DR. KOH HAS OTHER COMMENTS.
WE'RE THRILLED THIS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR OFFICE ON SO MANY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE COLLEGE DRINKING ISSUE IS ONE THAT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION SO WE WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU ON THIS INITIATIVE. MY NAME IS MILIA WITH THE AMERICAN DENTAL AGENCY ASSOCIATION AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THE STRATEGY FOCUSES ON THE LINKAGES BETWEEN ORAL HEALTH AND SYSTEMIC HEALTH. WE KNOW THAT ORAL HEALTH IS LINKED TO CANCER AND DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT PREVENTION IS REALLY THE KEY FOR ORAL HEALTH. IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS AND IT IS LISTED UNDER THE CLINICAL SERVICES AND CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. AND YOU STATED IT BETTER THAN I COULD. THAT LINKAGE IS THERE IN ADDITION TO THAT, THINGS LIKE FLUORIDE AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL. MY NAME IS -- I'M INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND PRESIDENT OF DOCTORS FOR AMERICA. 35 AND SERVE WITH JEFF AND WITH DR. BENJAMIN ON THE PREVENTION ADVISORY GROUP. I HAD ONE QUESTION TO SHARE. THE SENTIMENT ON BEHALF OF OUR DOCTORS, I WANT TO THANK YOU ARE FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO CREATE THIS PREVENTION STRATEGY. WE RECEIVED STORIES FROM PHYSICIANS AROUND THE COUNTRY TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION ON A REGULAR BASIS. JUST THE OTHER DAY, WE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM AN OBSTETRICIAN WHO TOLD US ABOUT TWO PATIENTS WHO PRESENTED TO HIM WITH ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER AND HE HAS NO DISEASE SCREENING EARLY ON BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THESE ARE THE KIND OF CASE WHICH IS WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PREVENT IN THE FUTURE. WE THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. THE QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU BOTH AS A PHYSICIAN AND AS AN ADVOCATE IS ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY AND SPECIFICALLY I WAS HOPING YOU COULD COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK THE BIGGEST THREATS ARE TO IMPLEMENTATION THAT ALL OF US SHOULD BE AWARE OF AND WORKING ON. THANK YOU.
I'LL START. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS CLINICAL SERVICES. BECAUSE WE ARE SO USED TO SAVING LIVES. WE TREAT THE DISEASE. IF YOU FALL OUT ON THE FLOOR, I KNOW HOW TO GET YOU AT LEAST BREATHING FOR A SHORT TIME. THAT IS WHAT -- [LAUGHTER] THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRAINED TO DO. SO THAT IS WHERE OUR FOCUS IS. 36 WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T FALL OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO CHANGING THOUGHT R THAT THOUGHT PATTERN OF TRYING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING SICK EARLY ON, DOING EXERCISING, PLAYING AND HAVING FUN, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE FUN DOING THESE THINGS BECAUSE YOU GOT TO SUSTAIN IT. IN ORDER FOR AN ENTIRE NATION AND COMMUNITIES TO BE HEALTHY, THEY REALLY NEED TO ENJOY IT. SO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK THE OTHER CHALLENGE TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST AS A NONGOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEE, I CAN SAY THIS, IS TO MAINTAIN THE FOCUS IN THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTION COUNCIL, TO TAKE OR KEEP THE FOCUS ON THIS NOTION OF HEALTH BEING A PART OF EVERYONE'S CORE MISSION AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO CHANGE -- QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE THE LEADERSHIP AND THAT'S REFLECTED HERE ON THIS STAGE. IT WAS REFLECTED IN THE OTHER SPEAKERS. IT'S REFLECTED IN THE AGENCIES EMBRACING THIS DOCUMENT. NOW IT NEEDS TO BECOME PART OF THE CULTURE OF THESE AGENCY SO THAT PROMOTING HEALTH IS REALLY PERCEIVED AS PARTS OF THE CORE MISSION THAT EACH OF THESE AGENCIES. BECAUSE IT IS AND IT OUGHT TO BE BECAUSE THEY CAN BETTER ACHIEVE THEIR MISSIONS IF AMERICANS ARE HEALTHIER.
I WILL SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I WILL SAY, OBVIOUSLY, FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND 37 THE SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE CD C-THE FOCUS ON PREVENTION IS ALIVE AND WELL EVERY DAY AS WE ALL SHOULD BE. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THE 17 DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN SO ACTIVELY ENGAGED OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EFFORT AND WHAT WE SEE IS THE PRODUCT OF THAT ENGAGEMENT AND THE MOMENTUM IS TREMENDOUS. I WILL PUT IT IN, NOT NECESSARILY A THREAT, BUT I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY WILL BE REALIZED AS ALL THE PARTNERS, THE POTENTIAL PARTNERS, REALLY FOCUS ON PREVENTION TOGETHER. USE THIS AS A GUIDE FOR STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS AND PRIORITIES. THE KEY TO IMPLEMENTATION IS FOR EVERYONE TO PICK IT UP THEMSELVES AND LOOK AT THE STRATEGY, IDENTIFY THEIR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH WE WILL WORK WITH BUT HOW EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, CAN REALLY MAKE IT THEIR STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT THEMSELVES AND THAT'S WHEN WE'LL HAVE THE MAXIMUM AFFECT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL MORNING. WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE STRATEGIES. IT IS A CONFERENCE THAT WILL GUIDE OUR PATH. NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO START GETTING ON THAT PATH AND BECOMING A MORE HEALTHY AND FIT NATION. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO NOW IS THANK THE PANELISTS OR THANK THE RESPONDERS TO THIS QUESTION AND ASK THE PANELISTS TO COME UP. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE 38 STAKEHOLDER PANELISTS TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITIES NOW AND CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. [APPLAUSE]
NOTE: The transcript for this program may have been compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
Secretary Sebelius joins other administration officials to unveil the first ever National Prevention Strategy.
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