Gov. Deal Addresses GPHA Conference

Governor Deal recently addressed the Georgia Public Health Association on April 13, 2011, at its 82nd Annual Meeting & Conference. More than 400 public health advocates attended the conference held at the Crowne Plaza off of Powers Ferry Road.

Gov. Deal's speech came right after the recent General Assembly's passage of House Bill 214, which would establish a standalone Department of Public Health.

The Governor praised the work of GPHA and their efforts in protecting the health of Georgia's citizens. In addition, he shed light on one of Georgia's most pressing public health issues - childhood obesity.

Dr. Fitzgerald, Georgia's new Director of Public Health, also addressed the more than 400 attendees. Dr. Fitzgerald was appointed by Gov. Deal in February 2011 to run the state's Division of Public Health, currently part of the Department of Community Health.

Media coverage appeared the very next day in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Health News, the Augusta Chronicle, and CBS Atlanta.

In addition to helping with conference planning and implementation, Hayslett Group's Partner Up! for Public Health campaign played an integral role in the three-day event. Campaign representatives hosted an exhibitor booth, inviting public health officials, advocates, students and others to view campaign press materials and ask questions about the campaign. Visitors were invited to explore the campaign's County-by-County Health Data and Rankings Report, sign up to receive news updates about the campaign and sign an e-petition stating they would support additional funding for public health.

Campaign spokesperson and Hayslett Group CEO, Charlie Hayslett, addressed the Board of Health Training Institute on the first day and presented a Workshop Presentation that focused on Rebuilding Public Health in Georgia.

For more on the Partner Up! for Public Health campaign, visit www.togetherwecandobetter.com.

Partner Up! for Public Health is a statewide advocacy campaign funded by Healthcare Georgia Foundation and designed to advance public health in Georgia. The campaign was launched in October 2009 as part of a multifaceted effort to rebuild a public health system that has been decimated by budget cuts in recent years.