The Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March 2010, contained many provisions to improve the health of Americans. One key provision created the National Prevention Council, chaired by the surgeon general, who, working with the heads of 17 federal agencies and consulting outside experts and stakeholders, developed a National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life, leading to a healthier nation.
The strategy was released in June of this year. The goal of this strategy is to create an environment in which everyday Americans can improve their health through prevention and live longer, healthier lives.
This is our opportunity to form partnerships to help us become a healthier and fitter nation, and we get there by engaging stakeholders from every sector and adopting evidence-based recommendations to improve America's health.
Good health is about a lot more than quality medical care. We have a growing understanding that housing, transportation, education, workplaces and environment are all major elements that impact the physical and mental health of Americans. Medical care and treatment are important, but it makes a lot more sense to stop diseases before they start.
Clean air and water, safe worksites and healthy foods are just a few factors that contribute to good health. Individuals can carpool and choose transportation that reduces dependency on automobiles, businesses can be part of building healthier environments for their employees and stores can provide easier access to healthy food.
In almost every community and setting, we can put policies in place that make healthy options the easy options. There is a lot that can be done, including seven priority areas in the plan itself that are most likely to reduce the burden of preventable death and illness.
Since each community is unique, partnerships with local entities are critical. It is vital that we all work together to engage the communities in which we live to implement these prevention strategies and effectively address our diverse needs. With better health, children will be in school more days and better able to learn, adults will be more productive at work and seniors will keep their independence.
If we can shift our focus away from just sickness and disease to prevention and wellness, then we can also lower health care costs, improve quality of care and improve access to health coverage. And, by increasing the focus on prevention in our communities, we can help improve America's health, quality of life and prosperity.
Utah has received $3.35 million in grants from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. The fund was created to prevent illness and promote health so that residents of Utah can lead longer and more productive lives. The fund supports various programs across the state of Utah, including $664,850 for community and clinical prevention activities. These activities will assist Utah and its partners in preventing and managing costly conditions.
Along with funding for prevention activities, Utah received $552,662 to support public health infrastructure to strengthen local and State capacity to meet 21st century public health challenges. In order to expand and support Utah's primary care workforce $2,129,600 has been invested in primary care training across the state.
By Marguerite Salazar is the regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region VIII.