Important Letter from APHA Leadership

Tomorrow we observe the anniversary of the terrible events of Sept. 11, 2001. We pay our respects to those lost in the tragedy, to all who suffered in the wake of destruction and to the heroes who saved countless lives and brought us hope. The American Public Health Association --all of us-- has strived over the course of the year to thoughtfully address questions of how we can do better to prevent such a tragedy, protect the public's health and well-being and promote peace for all.

It is in that spirit that APHA's Governing Council adopted 12 Guiding Principles for a Public Health Response to Terrorism at last year's Annual Meeting. These broad principles reflect APHA's grounding in the philosophy that the health and well-being of individuals are affected not only by the medical services received but also by the social and physical world in which we all live.

In an effort to remain true to our principles, to serve our members, and to remain a persistent and effective advocate for public health, APHA has developed a number of new resources for Association members and for the public. Located on our Web site, you will find a progress report based on our adopted principles, information about how to access available funds for bioterrorism preparedness efforts and resources for coping on a more personal level with disasters and other traumatic events.

We hope you will find these materials useful in your own work and with your own families. Thank you for all you have done over the past year to make America a safer, healthier nation.

Faye Wong, President APHA
Mohammad Akhter, Executive Director, APHA