Gibson County to Receive $33,085 in Funding to Reduce Tobacco Use
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, will join other state and local officials on Thursday, June 5, at the Gibson County Health Department in Trenton to present $33,085 in funding as part of the Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program.
Each county in Tennessee will receive funding during this three-year program to reduce the burden of tobacco use in the state. All counties are challenged to set goals and select one or more projects that address three topics: eliminating smoking during pregnancy; reducing infants’ and children’s exposure to second-hand smoke; and preventing child and adolescent tobacco use. Gibson County will focus its first-year projects on eliminating smoking during pregnancy and reducing infants’ and children’s exposure to second-hand smoke.
Funding from the Tobacco Settlement was provided to the Tennessee Department of Health for fiscal years 2014-16 to address the state’s high rate of tobacco use and prevent expensive related medical costs. The plan to distribute $15 million over three years has been generated with input from all 95 counties. This plan includes a variety of projects to target behaviors designed to protect the health of Tennessee’s most vulnerable populations: unborn babies, pregnant women and children.
Who: John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health
Leslie Humphreys, MPA, Assistant Commissioner for Community Health Services, TDH
Marilyn Barnes, West Regional Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health
Danna Taylor, Gibson County Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health
Tom Witherspoon, Gibson County Mayor
Rep. Curtis Halford, District 79
What: Presentation of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program Funding
When: Thursday, June 5, 1 p.m.
Where: Gibson County Health Department
1250 Manufacturer’s Row
Trenton, Tennessee 38382
MEDIA CONTACTS: Shelley Walker, Shelley.Walker@tn.gov or 615-253-5184 or Myrtle Russell, Myrtle.Russell@tn.gov or 731-421-6778.