Trust for America's Health Conducts Social Media Awareness Campaign in Support of Emergency Funding for Zika Prevention and Response

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Sep 12, 2016, 08:34 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trust for America's Health (TFAH) has released the first in a series of creative cartoons and editorials in support of emergency funding to prevent, mitigate and respond to the disastrous effects of Zika.

The first editorial details the price of inaction, concluding that "with broad support from the American people, it's time for our leaders to decide whether to heed the warnings and invest in solutions now, or leave the country with a devastating bill later." The first image, available here, is available for anyone to use on Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms.

"Unfortunately, considerable Zika-related damage has already been done to our nation—and it is likely irreversible," said Richard Hamburg, interim president and CEO of TFAH. "Our nation's failure to act severely hampers the full response that is greatly needed. However, the sooner we do act, the sooner we can prevent further damage and destruction to our nation's most vulnerable: our newborns."

During the next few weeks, TFAH will release additional editorials and cartoons (which will be available for download here) to underscore the urgent need for the nation to provide support for communities to prevent, control and mitigate complications arising from Zika.

"Without additional support, health departments and communities are on their own. Either resources will be shifted from other pressing needs or communities will have insufficient means to perform mosquito testing, infection prevention, disease tracking and other actions to protect against this devastating virus," said Hamburg.

Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. www.healthyamericans.org

SOURCE Trust for America's Health