Safer • Healthier • People
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
these three words say it all. Whether our safety is threatened
by environmental hazards, injuries at home or at work, or a
myriad of other dangers, CDC scientists are on the hunt for both
hazards and potential interventions. Likewise, our health can be
jeopardized by old foes like tuberculosis or influenza, as well
as newer ones like drug-resistant microbes, poor diets, or
tobacco use. Again, CDC's scientists work here and abroad to
track health threats and identify the many ways we can be
healthier—as individuals and as communities. Finally, whether
promoting health or safety, here or abroad, CDC's work is about
serving and protecting people.
When CDC was formed in 1946, the acronym stood for
"Communicable Disease Center." Today, the acronym remains the
same, but the agency and its partners tackle much more than
communicable disease. Chronic disease, global health,
bioterrorism, injury, disability, occupational health, and
environmental health are all areas where CDC contributes to
scientific knowledge and its application. CDC's sister agency,
the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR),
examines the specific health effects of hazardous waste sites
and unplanned releases of toxins.
In spite of this wide range of topics and disciplines, common
threads—particularly a commitment to accurate data, sound
science, and prevention—are the foundation of CDC's and ATSDR's
activities and programs.
Grouped in 14 categories, the 2005 Programs in Brief
descriptions provided here help to illustrate the scope of CDC's
and ATSDR's activities, as well as their shared goals of safer,
healthier people here and around the world. Each description
includes a statement of the public health issue or problem,
describes CDC's or ATSDR's activities and accomplishments, and
identifies steps for moving forward. |