Lead in Mexican candies

LEAD AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - New Mexico Department of Health launches public education campaign about Lead dangers. To educate the public about lead in Mexican candies, the New Mexico Department of Health distributed about 1,000 posters titled, “Toxic Treats,” to public elementary schools, Head Start programs and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs throughout the state. Click here for the full press release. Poster can be viewed in English    or in Spanish   (large file).

Community Health

In the new millenium, the mission of public health organizations remains the same; to assure the conditions in which all of us can be healthy. New challenges such as the possibility of bioterorism, increased alcohol and substance abuse, escalating diabetes and obesity in children, all keep the public health workforce learning and implementing new strategies to keep the population healthy. The website for the Centers for Disease Control Healthy People 2010 describes the many challenges facing community health in our nation today.

In the last 30 years, public health programs have played an increasing role in ensuring access to health services, including clinical preventive services such as cancer screening, smoking prevention and cessation programs, diabetes detection and management, family planning, and prenatal care.

New Mexico's healthcare system has several components. They include emergency medical services; primary care; medical specialties; dentistry; and long-term care. Primary care services include the basic diagnostic and treatment services found in general practice, family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics - gynecology, general internal medicine and general dentistry.

As for the prevention of illness or injury, some efforts, such as immunization, take place in medical clinics; others take place outside of the healthcare system. For example, some environmental health problems are prevented by refuse collection and the assurance of safe drinking water; injury prevention includes such things as building codes and enforcement of laws against driving while intoxicated (DWI).

The New Mexico Environment Department handles the following issues for the State on New Mexico:

Drinking Water - Drinking water regulations and other related information
Food Handling Permit - Permit application and plan review forms
Food Handling Regulations - Food service establishment (restaurant) and food processing regulations
Swimming Pool Inspections - Annual operating permit information