Obama administration touts new public health initiatives

Federal health officials on Wednesday announced new programs worth about $50 million to train public health workers.

The notice comes as outbreaks of whooping cough and West Nile virus are grabbing state and national headlines.

"Public health workers are on the front lines, educating their community members and doing the hard work to ensure we stay healthy and can respond to public health challenges when they arise," said Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Mary K. Wakefield.

The two new programs are sponsored by HRSA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Grants from the two agencies will help train public health workers and support public-health fellowship programs "similar to medical residencies," according to the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department.

Some workers will receive training in nutrition, HHS told reporters, highlighting officials' rising concerns about obesity in the United States. 

"These investments are part of our work to promote public health and they will help strengthen our efforts to fight disease and illness before they happen," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. 

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