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NYC Health Department News
NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES “LATCH ON NYC” INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS
New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley launched “Latch On NYC,” a new citywide initiative to support mothers who breastfeed their infants by asking city maternity hospitals to voluntarily sign on to support a mother’s choice to breastfeed and limit the promotion of infant formula in their facilities which can interfere with that decision. Twelve private New York City hospitals have already made the commitment and all 11 public hospitals run by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation also joined “Latch On NYC,” going beyond the significant steps they previously took to support breastfeeding when they banned formula from gift bags and promotional materials in 2007.
Deputy Mayor Gibbs, Chief Policy Advisor Feinblatt and Health Commissioner Farley Release Latest Data on Opioids
Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, Chief Policy Advisor John Feinblatt and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley today released new data showing that opioid painkiller prescriptions are rising in New York City and that 8,000 health care providers (15 percent) prescribe the majority of the drugs (82 percent).
Centers for Disease Control Launches National Campaign Using New York City Health Department’s “Man Eating Sugar” Spot
The New York City Health Department today announced that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will air the Health Department’s “Man Eating Sugar” spot – originally created for YouTube as part of the “Pouring on the Pounds” campaign – as a televised ad as part of a national obesity prevention media initiative. The ad will air in New York City as well as media markets across the country, from Hawaii to Maine.
Mayor Bloomberg Introduces Bill to Require Landlords to Disclose Smoking Policy to Potential Tenants
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg introduced a bill today that would require owners of residential buildings with three or more units in New York City to inform prospective tenants and purchasers whether smoking is allowed inside apartments as well as on balconies, courtyards and rooftops. Building owners would also be encouraged to use this as an opportunity to alert current residents of their smoking policies.
New York City Health Department and Health and Hospitals Corporation Announce 62% Increase in Citywide Colonoscopy Rate
The New York City Health Department and the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) announced that in just under a decade New York City’s colonoscopy rate has increased by 62%, signaling a major step forward in the fight against one of the most common – and deadliest – cancers. The city’s average colonoscopy rate is now 67%, up from 42% in 2003 when New York City first began tracking colonoscopy rates. During this time, a citywide push to increase screening rates has also eliminated racial disparities.
NYC Health Department Links Fresh Bulk Tofu to Two Reported Cases of Botulism
The New York City Health Department is investigating one confirmed and one suspect case of botulism, a rare but serious foodborne illness caused by an extremely potent toxin. New York City has seen only one other case of foodborne botulism in the past 15 years. Both patients are Chinese-speaking Queens residents and had recently purchased unrefrigerated fresh bulk tofu from the same store in Flushing. The tofu was not made at this store, and its source is still under investigation.
New York City Health Department Issues Order Banning Sale and Distribution of Synthetic Marijuana
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley issued an order immediately banning the sale of so-called synthetic marijuana, which has been linked to increased heart rate, hypertension, seizure, loss of consciousness as well as acute renal failure and death. The drugs are sold as incense or potpourri under names such as “Mr. Nice Guy”, “K2”, “Spice” “Galaxy Gold”, and “Smiley Dog”.
Health Department Reports Continued Decline in Tuberculosis Cases
In recognition of World Tuberculosis Day, the Health Department released new figures showing a decline in local tuberculosis (TB) cases. New York City recorded 689 cases of TB in 2011. This is the lowest number of annual cases ever recorded in New York City, and 82% fewer TB cases than at the peak of the epidemic in 1992. This continuing decline reflects national trends and the combined efforts of the Health Department, healthcare providers and community leaders to expand TB control procedures, including improved infection control practices in hospitals and upgraded laboratory methods that ensure more effective treatment regimens.
Health Department Reminds World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees to Complete Follow-up Survey by March 18
The Health Department today reminds adult enrollees in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry who have not yet completed their third wave follow-up surveys to do so by the Sunday, March 18 deadline. To date, more than 60 percent of rescue/recovery workers and volunteers, residents and passers-by have provided updates on their physical and mental health ten years after 9/11. The WTC Health Registry is hoping the remaining 40 percent of enrollees will complete the survey this week. Enrollees can contact the Registry by email at wtchr@health.nyc.gov or by phone through 311 or directly at 1-866-692-9827.
Health Department Launches New Public Education Campaign Depicting Cancers Caused by Smoking; Ads Show How “Quitting Is Much Less Painful”
The Health Department kicks off its annual nicotine patch and gum program today to help New Yorkers quit smoking. The program will run through March 16. To coincide with the patch and gum giveaway, the department is running a hard-hitting ad campaign that visually depicts three common cancers that smoking causes and describes the low survival rates of these cancers. The campaign’s take home message is “Quitting is much less painful.”
Health Department Announces Suicide Rate in NYC is Half the National Rate and Is Lower than Other Major U.S. Cities
The New York City Health Department announced that the city’s overall suicide death rate is just over half the national rate (6 deaths per 100,000 in NYC vs. 11 deaths per 100,000 people in the U.S.), according to a newly released “NYC Vital Signs” report on suicide and self-inflicted injuries. The percent of suicides by firearm in New York City is less than one-fourth the nationwide proportion and is low compared to other major U.S cities.
Health Department Kicks Off Community-wide Effort to Help South Bronx Teens Make Healthy Choices about Sexual and Reproductive Health
The Health Department today announced the launch of Bronx Teens Connection, a new multi-City agency and community engagement initiative to improve sexual and reproductive health and reduce unintended teen pregnancy rates in the South Bronx. By creating an environment where teens have the information, skills and resources they need to make healthy decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and act on these decisions, the program aims to help teens avoid unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Health Department’s NYC Condom Finder Available on All Smartphones in Time for National Condom Awareness Day, Feb. 14
To commemorate National Condom Day, which happens to fall on Valentine’s Day, the Health Department will launch a NYC Condom mobile-enabled website, so more New Yorkers on the go can use smartphones to find free condoms and access sexual health information. The NYC Condom mobile website, which provides users with sexual health information, has been optimized for mobile phone screens and the NYC Condom Finder smartphone app will be able to be downloaded using Windows and Blackberry platforms. Viewers can learn about the importance of using condoms, how to use male and female condoms, and how to find free safer sex products, such as male and female condoms, in all five boroughs.
Health Department Announces 41% Drop in Deaths Among Black New Yorkers Living with HIV/AIDS
The Health Department announced that new HIV data shows a 41% drop in deaths among black persons living with HIV/AIDS between 2001 and 2010. Despite this progress, black New Yorkers – representing 25% of the New York City population – disproportionately accounted for almost half of all new HIV diagnoses (48%) in 2010, a proportion that has remained almost unchanged for the past 5 years. Blacks were, however, more likely than all other racial/ethnic groups in the City to have had an HIV test in the past 12 months. To commemorate the 12th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day today, the Health Department reminds all New Yorkers who do not know their HIV status to get tested for HIV, take the necessary precautions to stay negative and protect their partners, and get into treatment if you are positive.
Health Department Launches New Ad Campaign Spotlighting Increasing Portion Sizes and Their Devastating Consequences
The Health Department today launched a new hard-hitting ad campaign urging New Yorkers to be more aware of portion sizes - and how they have increased - when choosing what to eat or drink. The quantity of food served in a “medium” or “large” order is significantly greater than in previous years. In the last 50 years, for example, the serving sizes of sugary drinks quadrupled and french fries nearly tripled. With a few casual selections, a single meal could balloon to contain many more calories than the amount an adult needs for an entire day. This new campaign, along with the City’s ongoing requirement that chain restaurants post calorie counts, will continue to provide New Yorkers with the information they need to make healthier choices.