The V.I. Department of Health has been granted $1 million for its Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Delegate to Stacey E. Plaskett announced Monday in a news release.
The grant is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“The goal of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases program is to reduce illness and related deaths caused by a wide range of infectious disease threats,” Plaskett said in Monday’s statement. “The ELC Program provides annual funding, strategic direction and technical assistance to domestic jurisdictions for core capacities in epidemiology, laboratory, and health information technology activities. In addition to strengthening core infectious disease capacities nationwide, this cooperative agreement also supports a myriad of specific infectious disease programs.”
According to Plaskett, the aim of the grant is to protect public health and the safety of the American people by enhancing the capacity of public health agencies to detect, respond to, prevent and control known infectious diseases. This is accomplished by providing financial and technical resources to:
– Strengthen epidemiological capacity;
– Enhance laboratory capacity;
– Improve information systems; and
– Enhance collaboration among epidemiology, laboratory, and information systems components of public health departments.
“This grant will help with the resources needed to address stress and other hardships,” Plaskett said.
