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I know COVID-19 is the most pressing public health issue, but there's more to PH than this pandemic.
The map below shows how states are doing with respect to infant mortality. The South is all clustered together at the bottom.
https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/IMR_MCH/state/ALL
The map below shows how states are doing with respect to infant mortality. The South is all clustered together at the bottom.
https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/IMR_MCH/state/ALL
In addition, Georgia is #1 in the nation for new HIV cases per 100,000 and that's not new information. I was teaching this in my classrooms 3 years ago.
A lot of public health success depends on the priority its given by each state in terms of money. It's not surprising to me that WV has been the leader in deploying the COVID-19 vaccine when they spend $147 per person and Georgia spends $83 per person.
The problems that existed prior to the pandemic have not gone away this year. They have been shoved aside as public health professionals have been re-tasked to COVID-19. Depending on random bursts of federal $ is a bandaid not a solution. We need consistent, long term investment.
For example, the vaccine tracking system for the state of GA (GRITS) dates back to the mid-1990s. Of course it couldn't handle the burden of COVID-19 vaccinations. This is just one IT platform that is woefully out of date for the DPH. These fixes need ongoing funding and support.
Want a better vaccine dashboard? We have to pay for that. Want a centralized appointment system for seniors to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine? We have to pay for that. Want more contact tracers? We have to pay for that.
Elected leaders show priorities in words but also in budget proposals. Literally, they put their money where their mouth is. When the Governor decides not to ask for more funding for public health, it's an indication that it's not a priority to him. We have a right to disagree.
We show our priorities with our voices too, by contacting our state senators and representatives and letting them know the issues that matter to us.
The pandemic has highlighted deficiencies in our PH infrastructure. We see it. But we need to make sure the people who control the money do too. Because for too long, PH has not been a priority to Georgia.
And if the Governor isn’t going to make public health a priority, then it’s up to us to make it a priority.
This is something that impacts every county in the state and really should be a bipartisan issue.
This is something that impacts every county in the state and really should be a bipartisan issue.
If I represented a rural county, I would be especially loud about calling for more public health funding. Their constituents are dying at a greater rate than any other county type.
With healthcare deserts in rural GA, PH is an issue beyond the pandemic too.
With healthcare deserts in rural GA, PH is an issue beyond the pandemic too.
The public health professionals I know need more than thanks. They need reinforcements and resources. Not just now but beyond the pandemic.
So why isn’t Dr. Toomey isn’t asking for more money? I don’t know. You’d have to ask her why she is not advocating for her people.
Her comments tell us though that she hasn’t had the staff or resources to meet the needs. She talks about needing volunteers for basic functions.
Her comments tell us though that she hasn’t had the staff or resources to meet the needs. She talks about needing volunteers for basic functions.
