Department of Health Recognizes Employees, Services Keeping Our Communities Healthy

By NMDOH

SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) joins public health departments nationwide in celebrating National Public Health Week and urges New Mexicans to learn more about the Public Health Clinics and services in their community.

National Public Health Week, led by the American Public Health Association, recognizes the people promoting public health, prevention and safety in New Mexico while raising awareness of the essential services they provide.

“New Mexico has a strong public health system built on an essential network of relationships focused on sustaining and improving community health,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher. “Public Health Week is an opportunity to recognize the many New Mexicans who provide important public health services and who educate their communities about the importance of being healthier.”

The theme for National Public Health Week is “Healthiest Nation 2030”, with public health agencies collaborating with individuals, healthcare providers, communities, and other partners to promote healthy living. NMDOH successes include reducing the number of teen births, taking steps to reduce the number of overdose deaths lowering the rate of obesity among young children. The department continues to work to increase immunization rates, lower the number of diabetes cases, expand its opioid prevention strategies and improve public health services statewide.

The NMDOH will participate along with 200+ members at the annual New Mexico Public Health Association’s annual conference in Albuquerque this week on April 4-5th, with Secretary Gallagher among the keynote speakers.

Here are some ways NMDOH works to keep residents healthy from the start:

Families FIRST offers prenatal care coordination assisting Medicaid eligible pregnant women and children 0-3 years of age to gain access to medical, social and education services that are necessary for healthy births.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is the special supplemental nutrition assistance program that identifies health and nutritional risks for mothers and their children. Enrolled parents and guardians get nutrition education and receive monthly food benefits for high nutrient foods.

Children’s Medical Services (CMS) offers access to treatment for eligible children through medical care coordination for children and youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) ages 0-21. It manages the Newborn Genetics Screening Program and the Newborn Hearing Screening Program.

The Preventive Medicine Clinics at local Public Health Offices provide family planning services, immunizations, and testing/treatment for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases and breast and cervical cancer screening;

Disease Prevention concentrates on the prevention and control of infectious diseases with outreach, surveillance, outbreak response, testing/treatment, contact follow-up, and referrals for sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and more. The team performs Harm Reduction counseling and facilitates needle exchange/disposal to reduce the risk for the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis and Narcan training/dispensing for opiate overdose prevention.

Local members of NMDOH’s Health Promotion Team work statewide with community groups, coalitions and councils for awareness and mobilization initiatives related to healthy lifestyles, environments, policies and plans.

For more information on services in your area, call your local public health office. A list of locations is found on the NMHealth.org homepage under Locations tab.