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PIHOA'S MISSION STATEMENT
PIHOA is a non-profit organization led by chief executive health officers of the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Island countries and territories dedicated to improving the health and well-being of its communities by providing, through consensus, a unified credible voice on health issues of regional significance.
PIHOA’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 2001 TO DECEMBER 2005 ARE:
- Human resources development and management
- Emerging infectious diseases and surveillance
- Regional public health laboratory support
- Information systems and communications
- Mental health and substance abuse
- Chronic, non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease)
- Community Health Post and Primary Care Association Development
- Environmental health
A significant development in the Pacific Islands was the Institute of Medicine study, and subsequent Report, “Pacific Partnerships for Health: Charting a Course for the 21 st Century (1998)”. PIHOA has accepted, endorsed, and signed a resolution supporting these IOM study recommendations. PIHOA has been actively participating in the implementation of these recommendations, i.e.,
- Provided a forum for U.S. agencies, international and regional organizations, professional associations, universities, training institutes, and others to come together at semi-annual meetings to discuss programs and activities and to strengthen technical support based on the needs expressed by the health leaders of the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands;
- Actively supported and participated in the HRSA Community-Based Primary Health Care Working Meeting held in the Republic of Palau in February 2001;
- Actively played a coordinating and facilitating role in the enhancement of continuing education and training of the health care workforce, i.e., with the HRSA-funded University of Washington’s Pacific Island Continuing Clinical Education Project, the Pacific Basin Dental Association, Pacific Basin Medical Association, and the American Pacific Nursing Leaders Council;
- Compiled health information data from all six Pacific jurisdictions to publish the Pacific Islands’ Health Data Matrix;
- Actively participated in a HRSA telemedicine and telehealth workshop at the East-West Center in Honolulu;
- Worked with the six Island Nations, submitting a Regional Application for “Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism” Cooperative Agreement to CDC.
PIHOA IS PRESENTLY INVOLVED WITH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
1. |
Increasing laboratory capacity for the US Pacific Jurisdictions by establishing a relationship with Hawaii’s Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory for testing of Bioterrorism agents, and limited reference testing for epidemiological specimens. |
2. |
Building regional capacity for epidemiologic surveillance, intervention, and evaluation through the support of three CDC affiliated Epidemiologists located on Guam, American Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia. |
3. |
Developing a “PIHOA standard” for HAZMAT shipping, that would have airline approval for shipment of infectious specimens in Micronesia. |
4. |
Working on the 2004 PIHOA Data Matrix of health status indicators, and the effectiveness of Pacific health related activities and programs. |
5. |
Working with the John A. Burns School of Medicine to lay the groundwork of a Pacific Environmental Health Consortium by which environmental health problems could be investigated and remedied – ameliorated. |
6. |
Sponsoring the Pacific Basin Dental Association (PBDA) in a training program for Pacific Island Dental Practitioners on dental care and procedures for mothers and children. (These activities are being funded through DHHS Region IX PHS funding). |
7. |
With Department of Health and Human Services Region IX Public Health Service funding, started the formation of the Pacific Island Primary Care Association, obtained PIHOA’s non-profit (501 c 3) status, and provided continuing dental education for the PBDA. |
8. |
Discussion with HRSA’s BT Hospital Preparedness for extending the availability of the BT Hospital Preparedness Agreement to the Freely Associated States of: (1) the Republic of Palau, (2) the Federated States of Micronesia, and (3) the Republic of the Marshall Islands. |
9. |
The CDC Public Health Preparedness and Bioterrorism Response Agreement (through funding allocated to each of the six United States Pacific Jurisdictions) for Regional activities in epidemiology, surveillance, networking, management preparedness, laboratory development, and epidemiology training. |
10. |
Providing Continuing Medical Education support for the American Pacific Nursing Leaders Council (APNLC), the Pacific Basin Medical Association (PBMA), and Pacific Basin Dental Association (PBDA). |
11. |
Providing administrative support for three CDC affiliated epidemiologists located on Guam, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia. |
12. |
Development of a PIHOA Web Site and our new 5-year Strategic Plan |
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