CORE COMPONENT ABSTRACT
This application is being submitted by the American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) to build on efforts to improve public health infrastructure and to expand on the work accomplished and outcomes achieved through CDC-RFA-DP14-1406. Proposed activities in this application will concentrate on major risk factors for diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in the Territory, while also working to strengthen the capacity of public health workforce to more effectively monitor and address other key concerns, including oral health. In this application, the ASDOH is applying for both the Core Component and the Oral Health Component.
American Samoa is a U.S. territory comprising five small islands in the South Pacific with a population of approximately 55,000. According to the latest American Samoa Vital Report released 2015, the three leading causes of death among men and women aged 15-59 are heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) continue to be on the rise rapidly in the territory as indicated in the American Samoa Community Health Centers 2016 and 2017 Uniform Data Systems reports. Each year there is an increase in new cases of NCD diagnoses and places a high burden on the territory’s healthcare system.
The proposed work of this application for the Core Component aims to continue work on activities currently in process, initiate implementation and evaluation of evidence-based strategies presented in CDC-RFA-DP19-1901 to address tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, diabetes management, type 2 diabetes prevention, and cardiovascular disease prevention and management. There will be a strong focus on:
• Capacity building for the Tobacco and Diabetes Prevention Program Staff and DOH health care professionals and support staff to provide necessary education to patients and the general public.
• Revamped media campaign that is culturally appropriate and sensitive addressing tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, as well as information on cardiovascular and diabetes prevention and management.
• Strengthening partner collaboration and engagement to maximize cross training opportunities and leveraging of resources to capture a wider base of clients/patients.
ORAL HEALTH COMPONENT ABSTRACT:
The ASDOH is also applying for Oral Health component of this NOFO to develop an Oral Health Surveillance System for the Territory to develop a comprehensive oral health surveillance system. Currently, American Samoa does not have a Territory Oral Health Plan or a surveillance system to determine oral disease status on island, determine trends, and to identify groups currently at the most risk for oral diseases. Furthermore, there are no oral health policies in place due to the lack of surveillance information.
The proposed work for the AS Oral Health Surveillance System will include conducting a needs assessment and related data analysis to determine a baseline; program and evaluation design, followed by a four-year period in which the program and evaluation design will be implemented. The work will be guided by an inter-agency advisory group that will include key partners from the health care system and other essential government agencies.
