MARTINSVILLE, VA – The West Piedmont Health District says it is being recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.
The health district demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready, a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a news release.
WPHD joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region, according to NACCHO.
“We are pleased that WPHD has received this recognition,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, WPHD Director. “A team representing all aspects of public health worked very hard over the course of nearly a year to document the health district’s strengths in all required areas.”
Gateley added that the health district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic provided opportunities to test existing emergency response efforts.
Some processes were strengthened and streamlined as a result, he said.
“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters,” said Lori T. Freeman, NACCHO Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends the West Piedmont Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
The release said local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness.
These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices, according to NACCHO.