Jacksonville, FL - National Public Health Week (April 5-11) is observed annually to celebrate public health and create awareness on important health issues. This year, DOH-Duval aspires to make Jacksonville healthier by sharing important details on the Department’s services, accomplishments, and eye-opening data.

DOH-Duval’s Programs and Services 

Children’s Health
Provides full medical care for children from birth to 18 years of age.

Emergency Preparedness and Response
Plans and responds to the public health needs of the community during an emergency or disaster.

Environmental Health
Works to reduce emerging environmental health threats.

Epidemiology
Works to identify, investigate, manage, and evaluate health hazards in the community. Also provides information about communicable, reportable, and emerging disease and conditions.

Immunization
Provides vaccination services and keeps vaccination records.

Maternal Child Health
Serves as an advocate to improve the health status of the Jacksonville community through education, prevention, partnerships, and school health. Through its services, the division emphasizes growth, nutrition, development, and mental and physical health of mother and child from prenatal care to postpartum care.

Refugee Health
Provides health services for people that are new to the United States.

STD/HIV Testing and Treatment
Offers comprehensive services and education for STDs and HIV.

Women’s Health
Offers a variety of services for women, including well woman's care, family planning, and maternity services.

2019-2020 Accomplishments 

• 618,301 clinical services provided
• 39,728 clients served
• 32,000 environmental health services provided
• 23,756 HIV tests conducted
• 29,530 WIC certifications completed

See more accomplishments in the DOH-Duval 2019-2020 Annual Report.

Local Health Challenges 

• Addiction
• Adequate Health Insurance
• Cancer
• Child Abuse
• Diabetes
• HIV/AIDS
• Mental Health
• Obesity
• STDs
• Violence

Local Leading Causes of Death 

• 1,786 lives lost to heart disease
• 1,782 lives lost to cancer
• 710 lives lost to unintentional injury
• 557 lives lost to cerebrovascular diseases
• 445 lives lost to chronic lower respiratory disease

“Public Health Week is a great opportunity to educate others on why health departments are such a big piece of the public health puzzle,” said Heather Huffman, Interim Health Officer of DOH-Duval. “We hope by sharing information on what we do here and the health challenges that we face in the community that we can become a stronger, healthier Jacksonville.”

The data in this press release was extracted from the Florida Department of Health in Duval County’s recent Annual Report. (3 MB PDF)

About the Florida Department of Health 

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.