TL/DR –
A group of around 3,000 health professionals known as Defend Public Health has released a report outlining key public health issues in the US and calling for the removal of Robert F Kennedy Jr from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The report emphasizes the importance of food safety and security, access to healthcare including vaccines and sexual and reproductive health services, clean air, and scientific research, while advocating for reductions in gun violence. It singles out Kennedy as a “genuine threat” to public health, arguing that his lack of scientific knowledge or experience is “devastating” the sector.
Health Professionals Urge for Robert F Kennedy Jr’s Removal from HHS
A health professional organization, Defend Public Health, recently released a report emphasizing health issues in the US. The report also demanded the dismissal of Robert F Kennedy Jr from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Defend Public Health, comprising around 3,000 health professionals, aims to counter misinformation and the lack of information from health officials with their report.
Elizabeth Jacobs, a professor emerita at the University of Arizona and a founding member of Defend Public Health condemned the current administration’s approach to public health issues, such as poverty, education, and access to healthcare.
The organization’s report deviates from the previous Maha reports’ focus on processed foods and environmental chemicals, instead covering familiar public health issues including food safety, access to healthcare, and clean air strategies. Their last recommendation is Kennedy’s removal from the HHS, deeming it the most crucial step towards improving American health.
American Public Health Association’s executive director, Georges Benjamin, pointed out that despite spending twice as much on healthcare as other industrialized countries, the US has poorer health outcomes.
Amidst increasing healthcare system fractures, Jacobs suggested feeding children as the first step towards health improvements. She also denounced scientific misinformation as an existential threat, with the US government being a major source of such misinformation.
She criticized Kennedy as being one of the biggest purveyors of health misinformation, stating his evident lack of knowledge, training, or experience in science.
Defend Public Health, which launched after Trump’s re-election, aims to support fellow researchers, public health workers, and the public by providing accurate information. This group, together with established health organizations and newcomers like the Vaccine Integrity Project, aim to serve as reliable sources of information.
Benjamin emphasized the necessity of private sector organizations aligning their recommendations to avoid public confusion. He further urged the federal government to regain its position as a trusted advisor in protecting public health.
Both Benjamin and Jacobs remain hopeful in seeing the federal government become a reliable source of information again and are committed to continuing to provide accurate information to the public amidst the current chaos.
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