Monday, June 5, 2023
6/5/2023
Over the course of the last few years, three emergency declarations strained Guam’s Department of Public Health and Social Services infrastructure. The first State of Emergency was declared in 2019 when Guam's locally acquired dengue fever case was identified, prompting DPHSS to take immediate action to contain and educate the island of Guam on how to minimize the spread of the virus. Two months later in November 2019, DPHSS was in another State of Emergency as the main public health facility experienced an electrical fire resulting in the building being deemed unsafe for utilization of crucial DPHSS programs and services. Most programs and divisions housed in the central facility had to abruptly relocate to various locations throughout the island. In March 2020, the first positive COVID-19 case was identified and DPHSS led and continues to lead the island-wide response effort by planning and opening testing and vaccination sites, launching educational campaigns about how to reduce the spread of the virus, and collecting COVID-19 related data to be shared with stakeholders on the state of the island. The pandemic highlighted existing challenges and introduced new difficulties to DPHSS relating to workforce and data improvements which resulted in DPHSS’ COVID-19 pandemic response activities more arduous and less efficient in nature. The last few years have highlighted the need for a robust public health infrastructure to ensure DPHSS is prepared to respond to emerging threats. This can be achieved by increasing the size and capability of DPHSS’ workforce, having a stronger public health foundational capability, and utilizing a more modern and efficient data system. These goals will ultimately advance the quality and performance DPHSS provide to its constituents, the island of Guam.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
