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Recognizing April 7-13, 2025 as Public Health Week in Hennepin County - offered by Commissioner Conley
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Resolution:
WHEREAS, the week of April 7-April 13, 2025 is National Public Health Week and the theme is "It Starts Here" highlighting the importance of us making a difference in our community, home and state, celebrating the efforts of public health staff and partner organizations, and encouraging continuous improvement for the future; and
WHEREAS, this year is the 30th anniversary of celebrating National Public Health Week, and in the past 30 years significant strides have been made in public health, including the following public health successes:
1. deaths due to HIV/AIDS, which peaked in 1994 at 49,095 AIDS-related deaths that year in the U.S., have dropped significantly with Antiretroviral therapy ensuring most people with HIV can live normal lifespans and prevention tools like PrEP significantly reduce transmission;
2. smoking rates, which were as high as 25.5% among U.S. adults in 1994, have now fallen to 11.4 % due to comprehensive smoke-free policies, public awareness campaigns, and taxation of tobacco products;
3. childhood mortality, which was at a rate of 13.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1994, has now fallen to 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births due to vaccines, better healthcare access and nutrition;
4. mental health awareness and treatment, with 40% of people with mental health conditions being untreated in 1994, has progressed with increased awareness, parity laws and integration into primary care, which have expanded access to mental health services and reduced treatment gaps;
5. lead poisoning, with 4.4% of U.S. children having elevated blood lead levels in 1994, has now fallen to less than 0.5% due to policies banning leaded gasoline and reducing lead in paint, pipes, and water systems;
6. health impacts of climate change such as rising heat-related deaths were under-recognized in 1994, but are ...
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