House Memorial 13

HOUSE MEMORIAL 13

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 5, 2025 "PUBLIC HEALTH DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

 

     WHEREAS, public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play; and

     WHEREAS, public health organizations shepherded New Mexicans through the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, including vaccine promotion and delivery that resulted in over seventy-five percent of New Mexicans being vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019; and

     WHEREAS, place-based public and community health organizations play a critical role in identifying the needs and priorities of the communities most impacted by dire health inequities; and

     WHEREAS, place-based public and community health organizations create, promote and carry out programs and strategies that connect New Mexicans to essential resources and are the backbone of New Mexico's public health infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association was established in 1917; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association is the state affiliate of the American public health association and has built the capacity of New Mexico's public health workers and advanced health equity in New Mexico for one hundred eight years; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association is forging strong partnerships with community organizations to center public health workforce development in partnerships and paradigms that acknowledge and educate on the harmful legacies of settler colonialism, genocide and racism and the communities most impacted by health inequities; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association and the New Mexico alliance of health councils have a close ongoing partnership; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's community health councils were established under the auspices of the 1991 County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act; and

     WHEREAS, the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act was amended in 2007 to include community health councils located in tribal communities; and

     WHEREAS, the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act was repealed and, in 2019, the County and Tribal Health Councils Act was passed to update roles and functions for tribal and county health councils and the department of health; and

     WHEREAS, for thirty-four years, New Mexico's county and tribal health councils have served the state with dedication and distinction to improve the health of all New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, health councils continue to serve as the hub of public health systems in counties and tribal communities and produce assessments and plans that identify local health strengths, needs, priorities and strategies; and

     WHEREAS, community health councils have developed and implemented programs and services to address critical health needs and to increase access to essential services; and

     WHEREAS, community health councils have worked with communities to attract federal, state and private funding to communities to support health programs and services; and

     WHEREAS, community health councils continue to provide accurate, up-to-date information on local health needs to state agencies and nonprofit service providers; and

     WHEREAS, community health councils have provided planning and coordination of local health services that result in reducing duplication and filling gaps in services; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico alliance of health councils has provided critical coordination, capacity building and advocacy on behalf of tribal and county health councils; and

     WHEREAS, the work and role of the New Mexico alliance of health councils have allowed tribal and county health councils to carry out high-quality assessments, programs and services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 5, 2025 be declared "Public Health Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico's public health organizations, including the New Mexico public health association and the New Mexico alliance of health councils and its constituent county and tribal health councils, along with critical community-based organizations, be recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments and their combined one hundred forty-two years of service in improving community well-being and advancing health equity among the people of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and the secretary of health for appropriate distribution.

- 4 -