Chicago Department of Public Health on March 4 updated partners and community members on its progress in the past year, and laid out plans for the year ahead, at a presentation at Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
The agency also gave out its first annual Healthy Chicago Awards to community partners. The event additionally coincided with the release of CDPH's 2013 annual report. Among the award winners were lesbian smoking cessation activist Dr. Phoenix Matthews and Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus.
CDPH Commissioner Dr. Bechara Choucair, MD, spoke about a number of his agency's initiatives. He said CDPH had launched about 240 community strategies since launching the Healthy Chicago initiative in 2011; about 92% were completed or "well toward completion."
A key CDPH program has been a smoking cessation initiative that has largely targeted the city's LGBT community, the first such program in the nation. Chicago's sales tax on cigarettes, which is the $7.17, is the largest in the country, Choucair said. The city has also aimed at regulating the sale of flavored mentholated cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Bouchair also discussed progress Chicago has made in the fight against STI's and HIV/AIDS. In 2013, CDPH distributed over 9 million free condoms in over 400 locations. "If you are still buying condoms, be sure to look at this chart first," Choucair joked.
He added that CDPH was launching a pilot program installing condom machines in 2-3 CPS schools in 2014, and 15 schools were targeted for 2015.
HIV infections continued to decrease, but new infections remained high in young men, especially young men of color, Choucair said.
Among other initiatives Choucair discussed were ACA enrollment, obesity prevention, heart disease and healthy homes.
CDPH in 2013 became the first big-city public health agency to be accredited by Public Health Accreditation Board, making it the largest health agency to attain that status.
"National recognition like that really tells you we're on the right track," Choucair said.
