Welcome to the virtual library of the Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D.

H1N1 News Conference with Gov. Ted Strickland

Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., Gov. Ted Strickland and Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram discussed Ohio's readiness plans for H1N1 during a news conference Oct. 7. View the news conference online.

The H1N1 virus is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in April 2009, and has spread to many countries around the world. In July 2009, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 virus a pandemic, meaning there is widespread human illness. Learn more about the pandemic H1N1 virus.

To find out when H1N1 vaccine will be available in your community, contact your local health department or call the ODH H1N1 Information line at 1-866-800-1404 during business hours. View the Ohio Department of Health's public service announcement about flu vaccination. 

Ohio Sickle Cell Legislative Advocacy Day

Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., and Sybil Edwards McNabb, chairperson of the Ohio Sickle Cell and Health Association Board attend the Ohio Sickle Cell Legislative Advocacy Day opening ceremony.

Sickle cell disease is a term used to describe a group of inherited disorders of the red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle. Sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. When they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems.

For more information or resources in your area, contact the regional sickle cell resource centers.

National HIV Testing Day

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is June 27. In Ohio, about 22,000 people live with HIV/AIDS. While some know their HIV status, others do not. NHTD is an opportunity for people to learn their HIV status, and take control of their health. Free, anonymous rapid oral fluid tests are available. Find a testing location near you.

Get the facts

• In 2006, an estimated 56,300 people became infected with HIV.
• More than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV.
• Of those 1 million people living with HIV, one out of five does not know they are infected. (People who have HIV but don't know it can unknowingly pass the virus to their partners.)
• Despite new therapies, people with HIV still develop AIDS.
• More than 1 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with AIDS.
• More than 14,000 people with AIDS die each year in the United States.

Listen to a Public Service Announcement from Dr. Jackson.

Meeting with President Obama about Health Care Reform

Tuesday, May 12, I met with President Barack Obama and other health officials to discuss health care reform and how public health can support reform. I am honored to have been invited and took the opportunity to share some of Ohio’s innovative ideas with our nation’s leaders. A few of the things I mentioned to Obama are:

• Healthy Ohio, housed at ODH, is Gov. Ted Strickland’s initiative to improve the health and wellness of all Ohioans. Healthy Ohio focuses on personal wellness management and a health care delivery system that focuses on the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. This program has developed the Ohio Obesity Prevention Plan to put systems in place to allow Ohioans to learn, work and live in communities that support opportunities for physically active lifestyles and access to nutritious foods.
• The Center for Public Health Statistics and Informatics, housed at ODH, seeks to help solve health care problems by empowering policy and decision makers with data about the health issues in their local communities. In Ohio, community health profiles are available outlining the factors impacting a community’s disease and injury burden include socioeconomic status, access to health care, age distribution and lifestyle behaviors.
• "Take Charge! Live Well!" is an Ohio Department of Administrative Services program that is reducing health risk factors for state workers.

More information is available from the White House briefing room.

Here's a link to a photo of the event. 

Fitness Walk

Department of Health (ODH) Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Mary Wineberg kick off the September 2008 Healthy Ohio Forum on Childhood Obesity Prevention by leading a fitness walk.

During the forum, First Lady Frances Strickland issued a directive on behalf of Gov. Ted Strickland to develop a plan to fight the causes and effects of obesity. The Ohio Obesity Prevention Plan is now available along with an executive summary.

The plan seeks to do three things:

• Improve physical activity options and opportunities.
  
• Improve nutrition and access to healthy food choices, and limit access to unhealthy food and beverage choices.
  
• Improve the coordination of policy and resources directed to the prevention and reduction of obesity, especially among those populations most at risk.

In the meantime, ODH is raising awareness of obesity in our state by rolling out the Play More campaign. The goal of the campaign is to help children and parents realize playing more can be the spark to a healthier lifestyle.  If a child needs more exercise – encourage them to play more. Children who pick up healthy behaviors in their youth are more likely to carry those behaviors into adulthood.

Infant Mortality Task Force

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., works with the Infant Mortality Task Force.  Established in 2009, the task force is charged with making recommendations to reduce infant mortality and disparities. This interagency, multidisciplinary task force is taking a comprehensive look at infant mortality rates and rising disparities among Ohio’s populations. Preliminary recommendations are to be developed by June 2009 with final recommendations available in September 2009.

Learn more about the Ohio Infant Mortality Task Force.