Mega Doctor News
EDINBURG – The Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.
The county’s health department demonstrated these capabilities by meeting a comprehensive list of preparedness benchmarks that are required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hidalgo County joins a cohort of eight (8) health departments in Texas, and more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been recognized for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region.
“We are truly honored to be re-recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our exceptional level of preparedness,” said Eduardo Olivarez, Chief Administrative Officer of Hidalgo County Health & Human Services. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and teamwork demonstrated by our Public Health Emergency Preparedness Team.”
Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices. The PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions.
“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters.” said Lori T. Freeman, Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends Hidalgo County Health & Human Services for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.
