Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is the state health department of Minnesota, a state in the United States. It is responsible for public health in Minnesota and is headquartered in Saint Paul.

History

The Minnesota Department of Health was established in 1872 to protect and improve the health of the people of Minnesota. It is the oldest state health department in the United States.

Functions

The MDH is responsible for a wide range of public health functions. These include disease control and prevention, health promotion, environmental health, health care access, and public health emergency preparedness. The department also operates the Minnesota Public Health Laboratory, which provides laboratory services for disease control and prevention.

Organization

The MDH is headed by a Commissioner of Health, who is appointed by the Governor of Minnesota. The department is divided into several divisions, each responsible for a specific area of public health.

Divisions

• Division of Disease Control and Prevention: This division is responsible for controlling and preventing infectious diseases in Minnesota.
• Division of Health Promotion: This division works to promote healthy behaviors and prevent chronic diseases.
• Division of Environmental Health: This division is responsible for protecting the health of Minnesotans from environmental hazards.
• Division of Health Care Access: This division works to improve access to quality health care services for all Minnesotans.
• Division of Public Health Emergency Preparedness: This division is responsible for preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

See also

• Health department
• Public health

External links

• Official website