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HOUSE MEMORIAL 13
57
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson
A MEMORIAL
DECLARING FEBRUARY 5, 2025 "PUBLIC HEALTH DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
WHEREAS, public health promotes and protects the health of
people and the communities where they live, learn, work and
play; and
WHEREAS, public health organizations shepherded New
Mexicans through the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic,
including vaccine promotion and delivery that resulted in over
seventy-five percent of New Mexicans being vaccinated against
the coronavirus disease 2019; and
WHEREAS, place-based public and community health
organizations play a critical role in identifying the needs and
priorities of the communities most impacted by dire health
inequities; and
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WHEREAS, place-based public and community health
organizations create, promote and carry out programs and
strategies that connect New Mexicans to essential resources and
are the backbone of New Mexico's public health infrastructure;
and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association was
established in 1917; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association is the
state affiliate of the American public health association and
has built the capacity of New Mexico's public health workers
and advanced health equity in New Mexico for one hundred eight
years; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association is
forging strong partnerships with community organizations to
center public health workforce development in partnerships and
paradigms that acknowledge and educate on the harmful legacies
of settler colonialism, genocide and racism and the communities
most impacted by health inequities; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico public health association and the
New Mexico alliance of health councils have a close ongoing
partnership; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico's community health councils were
established under the auspices of the 1991 County Maternal and
Child Health Plan Act; and
WHEREAS, the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act was
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amended in 2007 to include community health councils located in
tribal communities; and
WHEREAS, the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act was
repealed and, in 2019, the County and Tribal Health Councils
Act was passed to update roles and functions for tribal and
county health councils and the department of health; and
WHEREAS, for thirty-four years, New Mexico's county and
tribal health councils have served the state with dedication
and distinction to improve the health of all New Mexicans; and
WHEREAS, health councils continue to serve as the hub of
public health systems in counties and tribal communities and
produce assessments and plans that identify local health
strengths, needs, priorities and strategies; and
WHEREAS, community health councils have developed and
implemented programs and services to address critical health
needs and to increase access to essential services; and
WHEREAS, community health councils have worked with
communities to attract federal, state and private funding to
communities to support health programs and services; and
WHEREAS, community health councils continue to provide
accurate, up-to-date information on local health needs to state
agencies and nonprofit service providers; and
WHEREAS, community health councils have provided planning
and coordination of local health services that result in
reducing duplication and filling gaps in services; and
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WHEREAS, the New Mexico alliance of health councils has
provided critical coordination, capacity building and advocacy
on behalf of tribal and county health councils; and
WHEREAS, the work and role of the New Mexico alliance of
health councils have allowed tribal and county health councils
to carry out high-quality assessments, programs and services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 5,
2025 be declared "Public Health Day" in the house of
representatives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico's public health
organizations, including the New Mexico public health
association and the New Mexico alliance of health councils and
its constituent county and tribal health councils, along with
critical community-based organizations, be recognized and
celebrated for their accomplishments and their combined one
hundred forty-two years of service in improving community well-
being and advancing health equity among the people of New
Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the governor and the secretary of health for
appropriate distribution.
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