LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Long-Awaited Ban on Menthol Cigarettes Could be Delayed into 2024
The long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes may not be announced by the end of the year, but pushed to 2024, according to officials from two national public health groups working to remove the products from the market. Both requested anonymity to discuss the decision ahead of any announcement from the Biden administration. The delay could be announced as early as next week, they suggested.
Officials from the public health groups worry that the ban may be punted well into next year, perhaps even after the November presidential election. “Everything gets harder to do in an election year because people are distracted and bandwidth is stretched,” the official said. A ban on menthol cigarettes has been in the works for more than a decade. Read more from NBC here.
ASPR Coordinates with Department of Education on COVID-19 Test Distribution
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced in partnership with the Department of Education, free COVID-19 test distribution efforts for school districts across the country. In a letter sent to local education agencies (LEAs) by ED, school districts are being encouraged to order tests directly from the federal government to be made available to students, parents, staff, and school communities.
The tests will be made freely available to all traditional and charter LEAs nationwide. School districts may distribute these tests for free to students, staff, parents, and school communities, with the expectation that millions of tests will be sent out in the coming months – allowing schools to stock nurses’ offices, distribute at events, send tests home with students or parents, and more. Read more here.
Muppets From Sesame Workshop Help Explain Opioid Addiction to Young Children
More than 4% of children in the U.S. live in a household with a parent who misuses opioids. Many of those children feel confused and anxious about what their parents are going through. Now Sesame Workshop, the educational nonprofit behind one of the world's most famous children's shows, is trying to give young kids a better understanding of addiction in families. The intention is to build their emotional resilience in a way that can help them in the moment, and later in life.
A recent grant from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts will enable Sesame Workshop to produce more videos, stories and resources focused on addiction, treatment, and healing. Some of the free materials are available online, and feature famous Muppets like Karli and Elmo, and Chris, one of the shopkeepers on Sesame Street. Read more from NPR here.
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Six Steps to Using AI in Your Communication Strategies
In the realm of public health communications, the rapid emergence and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is ushering in a transformative era. As a comprehensive leader in communications, public relations and marketing technologies, the Cision company understands the importance of embracing AI’s capabilities early in its development stages as a critical element in the future of addressing complex challenges, bolstering crisis response, and ultimately improving the health outcomes of communities worldwide.
During the Cision-sponsored showcase session “AI & the Future of Crisis Comms,” at the 2023 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing & Media (NCHCMM), its panelists shared key findings and insights derived from real-life crises before delving into a focused conversation on how AI is re-shaping crisis communications in healthcare and empowering healthcare communications teams.
As a supplement to that inspiring and insightful discussion, Cision has followed up with six ways public health communicators, at all levels, can integrate the enormous power of AI tools into their daily work processes. The NCHCMM management team is happy to share these steps as part of our ongoing efforts to keep public health communicators informed and up to date on the evolution of public health communication in a changing world.
Please click here to access the Six Steps to Using AI in Your Communication Strategies.
Gun Violence is the Number One Public Health Threat
Many of the health threats that plagued Americans several decades ago—such as unclean drinking water, bacterial and viral illnesses, and the consequences from behaviors such as smoking cigarettes and not wearing seatbelts—have been successfully diminished. These health threats were reduced thanks in part to the work of public health initiatives.
However, a significant public health threat lingers without much hope on the horizon for a definitive resolution – the threat of gun violence.
Unfortunately, results from a recent Axios/Ipsos American Health Index poll indicate that the majority of Americans surveyed now name gun violence in their communities as the number one health threat, followed closely by the threat of the opioid epidemic.
The discussion of gun violence is intrinsically linked to political divisiveness. However, regardless of political lines, the threat to everyday Americans’ safety remains. The more that public health communicators and health organizations can reframe the issue of gun violence as a salient public health threat, the more progress may be made to ensure that Americans are safe.
Here’s what you need to know about the state of gun violence in 2023 and how this kind of violence represents a threat to public health.
U.S. Preparedness for the Next Pandemic
The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration came on May 11, 2023. One significant lesson emerging from the COVID crisis is that the U.S. and most of the world were unprepared for it. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies stress that it is never too soon to prepare for the next global emergency.
Will the U.S. be able to respond to the next global public health crisis?
“We Cannot Kick This Can Down the Road”
While it may feel like the country is winding down from the effects of COVID, many public health leaders and experts warn against complacency and inaction. Instead, they urge governments to negotiate policies and enact legislation to prepare for the next pandemic.
At this year’s United Nations annual assembly, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the inevitability of the next pandemic. He claimed, “We cannot kick this can down the road” because it is only a matter of when, not if, the next public health threat will emerge.
The WHO is drafting a pandemic treaty that the member states will vote on in next year’s general assembly. This new treaty represents an agreement including more than 200 recommended actions countries can take to improve global security. Also, the treaty’s call to action covers the entire spectrum from pathogen identification to widespread vaccination.
Recognizing June as National Men’s Health Month
Men and women should be proactive about their health. However, some health issues pertain specifically to men. Each June, healthcare organizations around the country recognize Men’s Health Month as a way to encourage men to take care of their health and prevent future illnesses.
National Men’s Health Month can also serve as a helpful nudge for some men who are reluctant to discuss health issues with their medical providers.
Whether you work in public health, are a man, or are a person who loves a man, raising awareness about specific men’s health concerns is a great way to recognize Men’s Health Month this June.
This article will show you how to encourage men to take care of their bodies, prevent disease, and seek medical attention to stay well. Furthermore, supporting men’s health overall can also help men in minority groups stay healthier.
How Can Men Stay Healthy Over the Long Term?
Staying healthy as a man means maximizing one’s longevity and taking steps to avoid the development of disease. This lifelong mission boils down to a few key pillars of healthy living that include exercising, healthy eating, and sleeping enough. And avoiding habits that can impact your long-term health, such as smoking cigarettes or drinking heavily.
