It’s National Public Health Week and this year the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County is highlighting its recent national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and the efforts of public health professionals here and across the state. A variety of programs and activities are carried out by the department and its state, local and community partners in order to promote, protect and improve the health of Florida residents and visitors.

"We recognize our job of keeping people safe and healthy," said Florida Health Palm Beach County Director, Dr. Alina Alonso. "Many in our county take solace in knowing its Health Department is there monitoring the air and water, providing immunizations that can prevent outbreaks, protecting people from the environment, and monitoring communicable and chronic diseases."

The Health Department is now on the front line of protecting the community from the Zika Virus by monitoring and testing symptomatic travelers from infected countries. If the person is infected we want to stop the virus from spreading to others. "Our public health professionals continue to work day and night assuring that our residents and visitors stay healthy," added Dr. Alonso,

Florida became the first state in the nation to receive national accreditation as an integrated department of health through PHAB. Accreditation by PHAB signifies that the department, including the state health office and all 67 county health departments, is meeting national standards for ensuring that essential public health services are provided in the community. Accreditation will continue to guide the department’s fulfillment of the 10 Essential Public Health Services and will lead to continuous improvement in service, value and public accountability.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the

Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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