CDC Releases Winnable Battles Progress Report 2010-2015, Includes HAI Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, today issued a statement regarding the CDC's release of the Winnable Battles Progress Report 2010-2015: "Many of the leading causes of injury, illness, disability, and death in the United States can be prevented. One of my first initiatives as CDC director was to launch a Winnable Battles initiative to push for progress in key areas where much more progress is possible healthcare-associated infections; tobacco; nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; food safety; motor vehicle safety; teen pregnancy; and HIV prevention. By implementing the programs with the greatest potential impact, we are addressing Americans biggest health challenges while we try to get the most health bang for precious resources. CDC set clear goals and established meaningful indicators of success. Today we release the Winnable Battles Progress Report 2010-2015 to show where we are on meeting our 2015 goals. We are proud of the progress we have made, particularly in reducing motor vehicle fatalities, teen pregnancy, and healthcare-associated infections, but there is still much to be done to help Americans be safer and healthier."

To keep pace with emerging public health challenges and to address the leading causes of death and disability, the CDC initiated an effort to achieve measurable impact quickly in a few targeted areas. CDC's Winnable Battles are public health priorities with large-scale impact on health and with known, effective strategies to address them.

The current Winnable Battles have been chosen based on the magnitude of the health problems and the CDC's ability to make significant progress in improving outcomes. By identifying priority strategies and clear targets and by working closely with public health partners, the CDC says it can make significant progress in reducing health disparities and the overall health burden from these diseases and conditions.

To read the HAI portion of the Winnable Battles report and access various CDC resources including a PowerPoint presentation, click HERE.