Friday, July 17, 2020

Feel Good Friday - Center for Disease Control and Prevention

If you follow the Feel Good Friday blogs, you know I typically share work being done by smaller organizations. Today, however, there's a very big organization that needs some love and recognition, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

What we now know as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), started off as the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1946 their primary mission was preventing malaria from spreading across the nation. Today, as part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC has an expanded mission: "We work 24/7 to protect the safety, health and security of America from threats here and around the world." Not only are they focused on protecting health but also on promoting quality of life through prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability.

Let's start with COVID-19. There is an overwhelming amount of information on the CDC website, including health resources for individuals; guidelines for businesses, schools, parks, faith-based organizations and first responders; resources for health departments; and tracking of cases and data. There are also communication plans, videos, and print resources in English and 34 other languages! Honestly, after spending some time in this section of the website I'd be impressed if that was the end of the story, but wait, there's more.

The CDC has resources and data on: diseases and conditions such as cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS; healthy living topics related to food safety, weight, alcohol and smoking; travel notices, advice and recommendations for international destinations; emergency preparedness for pandemics, natural disasters, and chemical or radiation emergencies; injury and violence preventionworkplace safety and health; and environmental health. They also partner with organizations around the world to address global health issues.

As we've seen in recent news, the agency is not without problems and controversy, however they are  still a valuable public health resource. To learn more about specific work of the CDC, visit their website or watch informational videos on their YouTube channel. I recommend the playlist I Am CDC, which is full of people who proudly explain the work they do.

Share the love and keep up on the latest news by liking the CDC Facebook page and following them on Twitter @CDCgov.

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