IMPORTANT NEWS: Healthy People 2020 is interested in obtaining public opinions about the framework that will be used to organize the Healthy People 2020 objectives. Every ten years the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sets national goals and objectives for problems that are of great importance to our nation's health. Nearly all national, state and local public health related organizations use this document to create their strategic plans and measure their progress and success in meeting these goals/objectives.

Public comment on specific objectives will be sought in 2009. For more information on this very important project, please go to: http://www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020/comments/default.asp

There are many competing issues being considered as health priorities; the advisory committee making recommendations to HHS is weighing the opinions of the public very heavily in its decision making. I urge you to strongly consider adding your voice in this process to make sure that the issue of lower dietary sodium intake is a national priority for the next 10 years and longer.

My comment to the Healthy People 2020 committee last April in San Francisco was included in the materials sent to attendees for the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Thursday and Friday September 4th & 5th. The document summarized the public comments submitted through five nationwide regional meetings in the spring of 2008. The summary included examples of the types of comments submitted in a particular subject area. The subject area "Nutrition/Food Safety" had comments from such organizations as The American Dietetic Association, The University of Iowa, Sharp Health Plan etc. My excerpted comment follows

The Healthy People 2010 objective #19-10 is a broad goal for increasing the proportion of persons aged 2 years and older who consume 2,400 mg or less of sodium daily to a target of 65%. However, this objective doesn't go far enough to describe how we as a nation are going to reach this goal when we are currently at 21%. How we move to reach the goal must be addressed in a step-wise fashion including specific sub-objectives based on a combination of education, environment, and enforcement. For development of Healthy People 2020, we need to consider including behavioral factors that get at the "how-to" of managing sodium intake and plan objectives that may include more valid measurements of sodium intake.

More detailed background information about Healthy People 2020 follows (and is excerpted from: http://www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020/

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) convened five regional meetings to discuss the development of the framework for Healthy People 2020, the national health goals for the next decade. A sixth meeting was held in Washington DC (Bethesda, MD) to gain input from national organizations and other interested groups and individuals.

Making a Difference
Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for promoting health and preventing disease. Since 1979, Healthy People has set and monitored national health objectives to meet a broad range of health needs, encourage collaborations across sectors, guide individuals toward making informed health decisions, and measure the impact of our prevention activity. Currently, Healthy People 2010 is leading the way to achieve increased quality and years of healthy life and the elimination of health disparities.

Now Is the Time
Every 10 years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leverages scientific insights and lessons learned from the past decade, along with new knowledge of current data, trends, and innovations. Healthy People 2020 will reflect assessments of major risks to health and wellness, changing public health priorities, and emerging issues related to our nation's health preparedness and prevention.

The Process
The Healthy People process is inclusive; its strength is directly tied to collaboration. The development process strives to maximize transparency, public input and stakeholder dialogue to ensure that Healthy People 2020 is relevant to diverse public health needs and seizes opportunities to achieve its goals. Since its inception, Healthy People has become a broad-based, public engagement initiative with thousands of citizens helping to shape it at every step along the way. Drawing on the expertise of a Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 and public input, Healthy People will provide a framework to address risk factors and determinants of health and the diseases and disorders that affect our communities.

Stay Involved and Informed
Public participation will shape Healthy People 2020, its purpose, goals, organization, and action plans. HHS will seek input from communities and stakeholders through public meetings across the country and public comment periods. As a national initiative, Healthy People's success depends on a coordinated commitment to improve the health of the nation. Subscribe to the Healthy People listserv for the latest information on Healthy People 2020 and to receive e-mail notices of related news, events, publications, and more!

Timing
Healthy People 2020 will be released in two phases. The framework (the vision, mission, goals, focus areas, and criteria for selecting and prioritizing objectives) will be released in late 2008 - early 2009. A year later, in January 2010, the Healthy People 2020 objectives will be released along with guidance for achieving the new 10-year targets.