TN.gov Newsroom

Cases Increase Significantly For the First Time Since 1996

Nashville, March 20, 2006

This Friday, March 24, has been designated as World TB Day to raise awareness, knowledge and motivation for action against tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. TB kills approximately two million people worldwide every year. Limited access to healthcare services, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB are contributing to the worsening worldwide impact of this disease.

Nashville, March 10, 2006

Adolescent pregnancies among African-American teenage females aged 10 to 17 are declining, from a rate of 25.4 per female population of 1,000 in 2003 to a rate of 23.6 in 2004. In comparison, the pregnancy rate for white females age 10 to 17 is 10.2 per population of 1,000.

“LIving with Brain Injury” Focuses on Improving Lives

Nashville, March 9, 2006

Every 23 seconds, brain injury occurs in the United States. Approximately 5.3 million Americans currently have long-term or lifelong needs for help to perform daily activities as a result of a traumatic brain injury.

Columbia, March 2, 2006

Today, representatives of the Tennessee Department of Health joined Maury County officials and other state and local government officials in breaking ground for the new Maury County Health Department facility. The new Health Department location at Highway 412 at the Highway 43 exchange, in Columbia, is scheduled to be complete in early 2007. In May 2005, Governor Phil Bredesen proposed $1 million in Healthcare Safety Net funding for a new facility for the Maury County Health Department. The funding, which was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, will assist in the addition of primary care services for local residents currently without health insurance.

Disease Affects African-Americans More than Twice as Much as Whites

Nashville, February 27, 2006

The number of people living with diabetes is increasing dramatically in Tennessee. While diabetes affects all races, African-Americans are disproportionately affected. Diabetes was the fourth leading cause of death for Tennessee’s black community in 2004 and the sixth leading cause of death overall in the state. Hospitalizations, as well as complications that result from diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, lower limb amputations and severe kidney disease are also more common in African-Americans.

Heart Disease Also Number One For Hospital Discharges

Nashville, February 24, 2006

The top four causes of death for African-Americans in Tennessee in 2004 leads with heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. The top causes of death do not differ much from the general population’s rankings of causes of death, except for diabetes, which ranks the sixth leading cause of death for all Tennesseans.

Department of Health to Hold Community Forum

Nashville, February 23, 2006

The Tennessee Department of Health will hold a public meeting with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) to share the results of a soil study performed on a section of the Chattanooga Creek floodplain and discuss precautions to reduce potential exposure to hazards. The forum will be held Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. EST, at the South Chattanooga Recreation Center located at 1151 West 40th Street in Chattanooga.

Tennessee Department of Health Ranks High in Dental Programs

Nashville, February 21, 2006

After all of the Valentine’s Day treats are gone, remember to care for your child’s oral health. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, a celebration of children’s dental health sponsored by the American Dental Association.

Tennessee Health Commissioner Urges Community Involvement

Nashville, February 6, 2006

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed this Tuesday, February 7, marks the sixth annual observance of the event that aims to motivate African-Americans to get tested and know their HIV status, educated about modes of transmission, involved in their local community and treated if they are currently living with HIV or are newly diagnosed.

Program Addresses Epidemic of Childhood Obesity

Memphis, January 19, 2006

On Saturday January 21, the Tennessee Department of Health announces the kick-off a pilot program to combat childhood obesity in the state. Through a partnership with the Tennessee Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc., the Department is sponsoring “Commit To Be Fit”, a nutrition and healthy lifestyle program in Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, Middle Tennessee (Metropolitan Nashville) and Tennessee Valley (Metropolitan Knoxville) with plans to perfect the model and make it available statewide. “Commit to be Fit” will teach youths how to make nutritious food choices and live a healthy lifestyle by participating in individual, team or non-traditional sports and other fitness activities.