U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
CONNECTIONS
November-December 2009
Photo of Dr. Fenton Email Dr. Kevin Fenton

What a remarkable year it has been for conversations on health care in America! The debates have encouraged many to question what public health should look like in the era of health reform given challenging infrastructure needs, evolving societal-level determinants of health, and desire to increase positive health outcomes.

In the year ahead, I will highlight our Center’s efforts to meet these challenges. I am pleased to announce the change in name and focus of NCHHSTP’s Office of Health Disparities to the Office of Health Equity. This signals our commitment to eliminating health inequalities by employing a social determinants of health approach that incorporates factors such as social structures and economic systems. During this time of change, we are committed and poised to lead for prevention.

View OnlineDownload PDF

Upcoming PCSI White Paper Launch

Design element for NCHHSTP’s Office of Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI)This fall, we are pleased to publish a new NCHHSTP White Paper on Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI). The document will outline the vision and objectives for this major NCHHSTP strategic priority, along with a framework for conceptualizing, implementing and evaluating PCSI at national, state and local levels.

The white paper contains key principles and pragmatic guidance that will be relevant for other CDC units, federal agencies, publicly funded entities, professional organizations, community-based organizations, and private health care providers where significant intersections in program objectives, populations, venues, or services exist. We acknowledge the tremendous work that our partners have done to promote better collaboration and integration of services. The white paper aims to build upon these accomplishments by outlining a more systematic approach to PCSI. The paper will be available later this year so please mark your calendars to visit the PCSI Web site.

New from CDC
International Laboratory Accreditation
HIV/AIDS in the US Fact sheet
AIDS in the US by Geographic Distribution
MMWR: Rectal and Pharyngeal STD Testing
Reported TB in the United States, 2008
Photo of African American woman smiling
Upcoming Events

December 1
World AIDS Day

December 3-7
40th Union World
Conference on
Lung Health

March 8-11
2010 National
STD Prevention
Conference

Locations and Dates
Office of National
AIDS Policy
Community Discussions
On The Web

Healthy People 2020
Each decade, HHS updates Healthy People, the set of national objectives for promoting health and preventing disease. HHS is seeking public input on the draft objectives and topic areas for Healthy People 2020. Go online to register for one of the free local meetings or to submit your comments.

TB Screening and Treatment Program for U.S.-Bound Refugees in Nepal

Work to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) takes place through the dedicated efforts of many people at home and abroad. With the majority of TB cases in the United States occurring among foreign-born individuals, the need for overseas screening for TB has become more evident. In 2007, CDC published revised Technical Instructions for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment for overseas medical screening of applicants for U.S. immigration to better detect and treat TB before entry into the United States. CDC and partners then conducted evaluations in three locales with programs screening refugees or immigrants requesting entry into the United States. The most recent evaluation was for Bhutanese refugees located in Nepal; approximately 60,000 of these refugees will be resettled to the United States in the next 5 years. The team evaluated the screening, diagnosis, and treatment process for this high-risk population. Thanks to all for this important work linking global and domestic TB control.