Previous Story
‘Health care still is govt’s priority’
|
Posted on May 01 2006
Despite statements about prioritizing the economy, the Fitial administration says it is still very much committed to ensuring the public’s health, and that health care remains one of the administration’s top priorities.
Fitial himself stressed this during yesterday’s proclamation signing making May the CNMI’s Mental Health Month.
“As we have made abundantly clear by now, the priority of our administration right now is the economy. We want to build a strong economy as a foundation for education, the environment, and essentials,” said Fitial.
Among the essentials is the public’s health, he added. “Once we turn our economy around, I look forward to providing more resources for this essential.”
Fitial said that, with more funds from a strong local economy, the government could fund more programs for public education, environmental protection and other essential programs, including Department of Public Health’s Mental Health Program.
“Too often, more attention is paid to physical health rather than mental health, but the two are often related, and it is very important that we respect and support both physical health and mental health,” Fitial said.
Community Guidance Center program officers, DPH Mental Health Planning Council officers, Coastal Resources Management director John Joyner, DPH Deputy Secretary Lynn Tenorio and other DPH and non-government organization officers attended the event yesterday morning at the governor’s conference room on Capitol Hill.
The World Health Organization found that mental illness ranks first in terms of causing disability and is the most prevalent health problem in the U.S. and its territories. It said that one in 10 children has a serious mental health disorder that, if left untreated, could lead to school failure, physical illness, substance abuse and even suicide.
