WHEREAS, this year the State of California celebrates 134 years of public health activities; and,
WHEREAS, public health services and programs are a high priority for the residents of California and the City and County of San Francisco; and,
WHEREAS, over the past 50 years, the United States has achieved significant increases in life expectancy and reductions in the incidence of injury, disability and disease; and,
WHEREAS, of the 30 additional years of life expectancy gained since the turn of the century, the public health approach is credited with the majority—approximately 25 years—of improvements in our health status and expanded life expectancy; and,
WHEREAS, public health programs succeed by addressing the underlying causes of ill-health, identifying and addressing patterns of disease, illness, and injury, and promoting health in populations; and,
WHEREAS, the use of population-based strategies for disease and injury prevention, public health has contributed to the decline in illness and injury, including heart disease and stroke, tobacco-related disease, infectious diseases and motor vehicle and workplace injuries; and,
WHEREAS, the first week of April is celebrated as “National Public Health Week” in 21 states, including California; and,
WHEREAS, the National Public Health Week theme for 2005 is “Empowering Americans to Live Stronger, Longer;” now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Health Commission recognizes the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s commitment helping older citizens overcome barriers to achieving good health through prevention, protection, and planning to live longer and healthier lives, and celebrates that commitment during National Public Health Week, April 4 – 10, 2005
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Health Commission at its meeting of Thursday, April 7, 2005.
Michele M. Seaton, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission