‘Govt-biz alliance critical to health of workers, NMI’
The Department of Public Health discussed yesterday the different services that the Commonwealth Health Center provides the CNMI community at the ongoing 3rd Annual Health and Safety Conference.
DPH Secretary James U. Hofschneider Hofschneider led a team composed of medical director Richard Brostrom and Bureau of Environmental Health’s John Tagabuel in the discussion at the World Resort Hotel’s Diamond Hall.
Hofschneider said the alliance between the private sector and the government is often critical in protecting the health and safety of the community, the employees of private businesses and government offices.
“I am very glad to have the opportunity to disseminate to the labor community the services that Public Health is providing for the welfare of the community in the Commonwealth and I am equally honored to speak in front of other delegations from Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau,” he said.
Brostrom and Tagabuel spoke briefly about the conditions and status of the several illnesses that are prevalent on the island. They also touched on tuberculosis, blood-borne pathogens, human immunodeficiency virus, mosquito-borne illnesses and food-borne illnesses.
Labor officers from island nations and U.S. jurisdictions in the Pacific joined hundreds of local employers and workers who are currently attending the five-day conference.
Previously a CNMI-wide event, the annual conference on occupational health and safety was expanded this year to a regional event attended by representatives from Hawaii, Guam, the FSM, and Palau.
The conference will run through Friday, Aug. 19. Panel discussions on environmental, health, public safety, and other topics will be held every morning and afternoon breakout training sessions will be held in three separate tracks: construction industry, general industry, and public sector training, where participants can receive OSHA 502 and 503 certification.
First aid and CPR training in English, Tagalog, and Mandarin Chinese, as well as maritime and shipyard training will be held on Friday.
