Trump can defend America by prioritizing public health

0
Trump can defend America by prioritizing public health

Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Dr. Richard Carmona, Dr. Jerome Adams, Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu and Dr. Boris Lushniak

As U.S. surgeons general under the Trump, Obama, Bush and Clinton administrations, we dedicated our careers to safeguarding the health of all Americans, both domestically and globally.

Through our experiences, we witnessed the profound impact of public health crises ‒ spanning from conflicts and natural disasters to the recent COVID-19 pandemic ‒ on individuals, communities and nations as a whole. We have also seen up close the real and lasting impact of U.S. leadership, action and collaboration in protecting Americans at home and abroad. For surgeons general, there is no higher purpose, nor greater result.But as we have all seen, when public health is compromised the repercussions extend far beyond physical well-being. Economic growth, employment opportunities, educational access and overall societal welfare are jeopardized when health security is not prioritized. Hence, we urge for a renewed emphasis on America’s leadership and accountability in global health security to avert such crises in the future.

Diseases transcend borders into American households

Surgeon General Jerome Adams, right, listens in March 2020 as President Donald Trump gives a White House briefing on COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how a health emergency originating on one side of the world can swiftly transform into a threat to our own way of life. The strain on health care systems, sacrifices of front-line workers and tragic loss of lives have left an indelible mark on our society.

link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *