Director's Message

Sept. 29, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, Director

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

~Joni Mitchell

I'm writing to you from eastern Oregon, where I have been meeting yesterday and today with staff and community groups in Ontario and Baker City. It's been a very enjoyable and informative visit, and I'll tell you more about it in next week's message. Today, as we continue to read news reports about spinach tainted with e. coli, its important to take a moment while things are still fresh in our minds to reflect on what this incident has taught us. Namely, the importance of our public health system. 

First, however, I would like to recognize the great work of our public health professionals in quickly identifying the cause of this outbreak. By doing so, they saved thousands of us from serious illness and in some cases death. I'm sure you join me in thanking them. We are all grateful for their efforts.

Our state's public health system is working. The ongoing stories about contaminated spinach make very clear the importance of the people who work behind the scenes every day to protect our health. When things are going right we rarely even think about this invisible network and the safety it affords us.

Consider for a few moments your normal daily activities and what you are able to take for granted, and you'll quickly realize the importance of our public health professionals.

When we wake up in the morning we can turn on our bathroom taps without having to wonder if the water we're brushing our teeth with contains lead. We can eat fruit and cereal, and drink juice and milk for breakfast without having to worry about contaminants. On our day off we can take a trip to the beach or a lake and know it's safe to have contact with the water. We can buy snacks at a vendor or enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and know the kitchen is sanitary and the food is safe. On the way home we can stop at the grocery store to pick up some produce, cheese and other foods without worrying about bacterial contaminants.

We don't have to worry because our public health staff are doing the worrying for us. From protecting our food and water, to ensuring children receive school immunizations, to monitoring hospitals, disease outbreaks and environmental toxins, the public health team is always in the background protecting us and making sure we don't get sick.

However, when we are directly threatened, they step into the spotlight. When e. coli enters the food supply, for example, our public health professionals act quickly to identify and locate the problem before more people get sick. When bacterial contamination is discovered in water, our public health team issues an alert so people can take appropriate precautions. 

Problems are identified, solutions are developed, and issues are resolved. And then we can all go back to our daily routines, without worry, knowing the invisible public health network is still in place and still looking out for our interests.

This latest incident reminds us all of the importance of having a strong, skilled, and available public health workforce. I thank everyone involved for your good work.

To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us