ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTITIONER
SPOTLIGHT ON NEHA RESOURCES: VECTORS AND PESTS
Spring is almost here—along with the vectors and pests that can potentially spread disease in our communities. As health depart- ments start to focus more on vector control, we are highlighting some of the vector and pest resources we have to ensure your vector programs are ready to protect the health and safety of your communities. Vector Control Toolkit The Vector Control Tools & Resources Toolkit provides tools and resources for program improvement activities that align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 10 Essential Envi- ronmental Public Health Services. The Essential Services form the framework used to evaluate the effectiveness of a community’s environmental public health system. The services are based on the three core functions of public health—assessment, policy develop- ment, and assurance—and provide a basis for program improve- ment for every area within environmental health departments. For each Essential Service, the toolkit explains how the service relates to vector control, provides examples of vector control pro- gram activities that fit within each Essential Service, and includes links to tools to help health departments. For example, here are the first 4 Essential Services: • Essential Service #1—Monitoring: Monitor environmental and health status to identify and solve community environmental public health problems. » Monitoring is referred to as disease surveillance and it is vital for reportable infectious diseases. It is essential to monitor the health of populations to identify trends in vectorborne disease, which allows for the assessment of needed health resources. Vector program activities that fit into Essential Ser- vice #1 could include: − Conducting a community environmental health assess- ment for vectors − Having a protocol for disease surveillance − Using GIS in monitoring resident complaints, trap loca- tions, and control activities − Monitoring mosquitos in the area with surveillance traps • Essential Service #2—Diagnose and Investigate: Diagnose and investigate environmental public health problems and health hazards in the community. » Diagnose and investigate activities to assist in identifying health problems and health hazards in communities. Joint investigations with environmental health, epidemiology, and laboratory services must be conducted for vector disease
outbreaks, patterns of infectious disease and injuries, envi- ronmental hazards, and other health threats. Vector program activities that fit into Essential Service #2 could include: − Using mosquito traps and other vector surveillance methods − Using electronic collection forms for inspections and resi- dent complaints − Communicating to the community and clinical health pro- fessionals that disease is active in the community − Communicating to the community the times, areas, and treatment methods being deployed • Essential Service #3—Inform, Educate, and Empower: Inform, educate, and empower people about environmental public health issues. » This Essential Service covers the development and dissemina- tion of information that educates and promotes activities to reduce health risks associated with vectorborne diseases. The use of health communication—such as media advocacy and social marketing—allows for reliable and vetted resources to be accessible to the community. Vector program activities that fit into Essential Service #3 could include: − Having a comprehensive communication plan − Conducting community outreach through a variety of means such as door hangers, public meetings, advertise- ment, and social media • Essential Service #4—Mobilize: Mobilize community partner- ships and actions to identify and solve environmental health problems. » This Essential Service focuses on how to mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve vector-related health prob- lems, as well as identify appropriate partners who can con- tribute to or benefit from addressing these problems. Envi- ronmental public health agencies can foster awareness, help build coalitions, and facilitate partnerships to solve commu-
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Volume 87 • Number 7
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