Public health experts take on climate change, asbestos, drinking water safety
Eliminating exposure to asbestos and addressing the effect of climate change on mental health were two of the fourteen new policy statements adopted by the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Governing Council at its 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo in Philadelphia this week. The group's ambitious agenda includes topics ranging from environmental justice to drinking water safety and attacks on health workers:
20191 Promoting eye health — Noting the importance of eye health to children, adults and older people, calls on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to issue a call to action on reducing the burden of vision impairment and partner with fellow agencies and community organizations to launch a coordinated public awareness campaign on vision health across the lifespan. Encourages the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build on and develop the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System and include questions about eye health in major health surveys. Urges state and local public health agencies to partner with health care systems to promote objectives and strategies on optimal eye health.