Release Date: March 19, 2010
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
City of San Antonio’s Metro Health Department Awarded $15.6 million as Part of Recovery Act Prevention and Wellness Initiative: Communities Putting Prevention to Work
Today, Mayor Julián Castro, Director of Health Dr. Fernando Guerra, along with elected officials, celebrity guests and nearly 150 children celebrated the award of a $15.6 million grant to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health).
The celebration at the Calderon Boys & Girls Club followed an announcement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Washington D.C. that San Antonio is one of 44 communities receiving grants as part of the HHS’ Communities Putting Prevention to Work program. The prevention and wellness initiative supports public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, and improve nutrition—critical actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health.
“Our ultimate goal, as a community and a nation, must be to prevent the onset of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes from occurring in the first place,” said Mayor Castro. “Adopting policies that increase physical activity and promote healthy eating and living will strengthen our families and communities, while saving millions in health care costs associated with the treatment of chronic diseases.”
“The grant will allow us to attack this major public health issue in a more comprehensive, cross-cultural manner through broad sweeping policy, systems and environmental changes,” said Dr. Guerra. “It also will allow us to address disparities that exist in some of San Antonio’s communities due to lack of access to healthy nutritious foods and high rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.”
HHS awarded $372.8 million to the selected states, cities, towns, and tribes. The grantees will implement various community-selected strategies over the next two years via funds by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. One of the goals is for communities to support healthy choices among their residents through a variety of methods, including increasing the availability of healthy foods and beverages and improving access to safe places for physical activity.
Metro Health will engage all sectors of the community and other City departments in its efforts to reduce and prevent obesity in children and adults. The initiatives will include plans for conducting community-wide physical activity events, improving the outdoor environment, encouraging more healthy menu options in restaurants, and increasing opportunities for the public to utilize recreational and fitness facilities at no cost.
For more information, call Population-based Services Administrator Jennifer Herriott at 207-7052.
To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit www.hhs.gov/recovery and www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery.
Disclaimer: This news release was produced using a template prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
