Introduction

The Health People 2020 initiative was started in 2010 in an attempt to improve America’s health. The main vision of the initiative is to produce a society whereby every person has a healthy life. The initiative is currently focusing on specific goals. The first goal is to eliminate disparities in the country’s healthcare sector. This essay describes the Action Plans undertaken to deal with measles, plague, and meningitis in Miami.

Healthy People 2020: Goals, Objectives, and Indicators

The Healthy People 2020 seeks “to promote healthy practices and behaviors across all stages of life” (About Healthy People, 2015, para. 6). The initiative is expected “to promote longer lives free of disabilities, diseases, and premature deaths” (About Healthy People, 2015, para. 3). The program seeks to produce better environments that can support the health needs of every citizen. Some of the major objectives include dealing with various preventable diseases and improving the living conditions of every citizen.

The program has identified several areas that can produce the best health outcomes. Several health indicators are used in order to support the health of every American citizen. The program focuses on the social, economic, environmental, and biological factors affecting the health outcomes of many communities. The initiative also seeks to eliminate health disparities in the country. The “important objective is to improve quality of life and health behaviors across all stages of life” (About Healthy People, 2015, para. 5).

Communicable Diseases in Miami, Florida

The Florida Department of Health uses powerful initiatives to monitor, promote, and improve the changing health needs of every person in the state. The department uses powerful efforts that bring together different counties and communities across the state (Outbreaks, 2013). The department has been monitoring the problems associated with various communicable illnesses. Such diseases can affect the health conditions of many citizens in the state (Florida Health, 2015). The targeted population-based communicable illnesses include measles, meningitis, and plague.

Measles is a highly-contagious viral disease (Florida Health, 2015). It can also result in death or health complications. Measles is not a common disease in Miami, Florida. This population-based communicable illness is reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, 159 cases of measles were reported between January and April 2015. Miami has reported one case of Measles this year. This “communicable illness produces several symptoms such as fever, rashes, and running noses” (Goel, Gurpreet, & Swami, 2007, p. 27). Many people think that measles is a minor illness. However, it can affect the lives of many global citizens.

The other common disease affecting many people across the globe is meningitis. This communicable disease attacks the human meninges (Outbreaks, 2013). These are protective membranes that surround the human spinal cord and the brain. This disease is usually cause by a virus or bacteria. In the recent past, Florida has recorded several cases of meningitis. For instance, the state recorded 10 cases of fungal meningitis in 2012. Similar cases and outbreaks are recorded annually in the state (Outbreaks, 2013). Miami City has been recording a smaller number of meningitis cases.

Meningitis is a dangerous condition because it affects the health outcomes of many citizens. Patients with meningitis can survive with effective treatment. However, the disease causes numerous complications and disabilities that can affect a person’s wellbeing. Communities and families should support such patients. Getting “over this communicable disease calls for numerous resources and support” (Goel et al., 2007, p. 27). The effects of meningitis can be physical or emotional. The affected families should use numerous resources in order to support their patients. The success rate depends on the treatment method availed to every patient (Outbreaks, 2013). Some people who get this disease do not survive.

The other common communicable disease is plague. This “disease is infectious and deadly” (Tomblyn et al., 2009, p. 1163). Plague spreads very fast in regions with poor sanitary conditions. Plague is “transmitted through contact, contaminated materials, air, or undercooked foods” (Fauci & Morens, 2012, p. 457). The symptoms exhibited by a patient depend on the affected part. This disease can “be treated successfully if detected early” (Tomblyn et al., 2009, p. 1210). Pneumonic plaque can “cause death within 20 hours after infection” (Fauci & Morens, 2012, p. 457). The last case of plague in Florida was reported in 1920. However, the disease remains one of the major health threats in Miami.

Every community should use the best resources in order to deal with plague. Florida has “an activated vaccine for this communicable disease” (Florida Health, 2015, para. 4). The State of Florida conducts numerous studies in order to explore the prevalence of different diseases. This analysis shows that plague is not a major problem affecting the people of Miami.

Action Plans

The State of Florida uses powerful Action Plans (APs) to manage different diseases. Such APs are in accordance with the Healthy People 2020 Program. To begin with, Miami focuses on the vision of the Healthy People 2020. The vision seeks to establish better societies whereby all people have healthy lives (Florida Health, 2015). That being the case, the community has been using a power AP for measles. The state uses powerful surveillance systems to monitor the spread of the disease (Fauci & Morens, 2012). Preventive measures and vaccines are also used to control the spread of measles.

Meningitis is a common communicable disease in Miami. The State of Florida has been using proper health structures to deal with this illness. The disease is common because it is associated with many causal agents. This disease is also known to produce both permanent and temporary effects. Most of the health centers and hospitals in Miami support their patients using quality resources. The community uses evidence-based approaches to collect and evaluate relevant data (Florida Health, 2015).

A similar approach is used for plague. The State of Florida undertakes numerous studies in order to monitor every disease outbreak. The Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases (DPED) focuses on the issues associated with illnesses such as plague. The community believes strongly that early diagnosis can result in effective management of disease. The “mortality rate of plague is usually very high” (Fauci & Morens, 2012, p. 458). The community focuses on the goals of the Healthy People 2020 initiative in order to get the best outcomes.

Conclusion

The Healthy People 2020 offers a framework for improving the health of every American citizen. Miami uses powerful incentives to empower different individuals. The approach makes it easier for many citizens to make evidence-based health decisions. Different organizations, institutions, and professionals are usually encouraged to present their inputs. The practice has addressed various diseases such as meningitis, plague, and measles. The above Action Plans will eventually support the changing health needs of many Miamians.

Reference List

About Healthy People. (2015). Web.

Fauci, A., & Morens, D. (2012). The Perpetual Challenge of Infectious Diseases. The New England Journal of Medicine, 366(5), 454-461.

Florida Health. (2015). Web.

Goel, K., Gurpreet, D., & Swami, M. (2007). How to Deal with Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases Globally. The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology, 1(1), 26-30.

Outbreaks: Protecting Americans from Infectious Diseases. (2013). Web.

Tomblyn, M., Chiller, T., Einsele, H., Gress, R., Sepkowitz, K., Storek, J.,…Boeckh, M. (2009). Guidelines for Preventing Infectious Complications Among Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Global Perspective. Biol Blood Marrow Transplants, 15(1), 1143-1238.