August 3, 2006
News media calls to David Hass at (630) 682-7979, ext. 7374

DuPage County Health Department earns Recognition for public health preparedness

Board president Kurzawa praises professionalism

The DuPage County Health Department is among northern Illinois health departments that recently were honored for public health emergency preparedness by the National Association of County and City Health Officials. The DuPage health department participates in the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium, which accepted the recognition from NACCHO.

The DuPage health department’s ability to respond to public health emergencies and its partnership with eight other regional health departments in the northern Illinois consortium drew praise from the national organization. The nine health departments in the consortium underwent reviews conducted by Project Public Health Ready, a unique program between NACCHO and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Linda Kurzawa, DuPage County Board of Health President, said the DuPage health department and its regional partners achieved goals in preparedness planning, worker competence and demonstrating all-hazards readiness through exercises. Kurzawa praised the professionalism of the DuPage health department employees. “Their ability to handle health emergencies such as recent situations involving mumps, pertussis, West Nile virus and seasonal influenza demonstrates staff ability to respond to emergencies,” she said.

The northern Illinois consortium was among only 12 regional and local health departments recognized in the United States. The consortium covers DuPage, Cook, Lake, McHenry, Grundy, Kane, Will, Winnebago and Kendall counties.

“We promote health, prevent illness, and provide quality service”