Report on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Introduction and Mandate

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a primary agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, headquartered in Atlanta. Its core mission is the prevention and control of disease, the promotion of environmental health, and the advancement of health education. As a key component of the Public Health Service, the CDC’s operations are fundamentally aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Historical Evolution and Expanded Scope

The agency was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center with an initial focus on combating malaria. Its mandate subsequently expanded to address a wider range of public health threats, including polio, smallpox, and comprehensive disease surveillance. This evolution in scope prompted name changes to the Center for Disease Control and, ultimately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reflecting its broadened responsibilities.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The CDC’s work directly supports the achievement of several SDGs, with a primary focus on global health and safety.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The CDC’s entire mission is an embodiment of SDG 3. Its contributions are evident across multiple targets:

• Target 3.3 (End Epidemics): From its origins fighting malaria to its current role in controlling infectious diseases, the CDC is a global leader in combating communicable diseases.
• Target 3.4 (Reduce Mortality from Non-communicable Diseases): Through entities like the Office on Smoking and Health and various health promotion programs, the CDC works to prevent chronic diseases and improve well-being.
• Target 3.8 (Achieve Universal Health Coverage): The National Immunization Program is a critical mechanism for ensuring access to essential vaccines, a cornerstone of universal health coverage.
• Target 3.d (Strengthen Early Warning and Risk Reduction): As one of the world’s foremost epidemiological centers, the CDC’s work in disease surveillance and data consolidation is vital for managing national and global health risks.

Contributions to Other SDGs

The agency’s impact extends beyond SDG 3:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) & SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The CDC’s focus on environmental health directly contributes to creating safe living conditions and reducing illness from environmental pollutants.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): By providing grants, publishing epidemiological findings, and disseminating information to health professionals globally, the CDC fosters the international cooperation necessary to achieve global health objectives.

Core Functions and Global Impact

Today, the CDC’s operational structure is designed to address a comprehensive range of public health challenges. Its primary functions are crucial for advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Data Consolidation and Epidemiology: The CDC gathers and analyzes health statistics to monitor disease trends and inform public health strategy, serving as a global epidemiological resource.
2. Disease Prevention and Preparedness: It develops and implements programs for disease prevention, health promotion, and public health preparedness.
3. Programmatic Leadership: The agency subsumes critical national programs, including the National Immunization Program and initiatives focused on environmental health and infectious diseases.
4. Information Dissemination and Education: The CDC provides vital health information to healthcare professionals and the public, empowering communities to make informed health decisions.
5. Research and Program Support: It provides grants for studies and public health programs, stimulating innovation and capacity-building in the health sector.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The primary Sustainable Development Goal addressed in the article is:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Explanation: The article exclusively focuses on the mission and functions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its core mission is described as “preventing and controlling disease and promoting environmental health and health education.” The text details the CDC’s work in fighting “malaria and other infectious diseases,” its involvement with “polio” and “smallpox,” and its broader scope covering “health statistics, infectious diseases, and environmental health.” These activities are central to the aim of SDG 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s description of the CDC’s activities, the following specific targets under SDG 3 can be identified:

1. Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
   • Justification: The article explicitly states that the CDC was founded as the “Communicable Disease Center to fight malaria and other infectious diseases” and that its scope widened to include “polio” and “smallpox.” This directly aligns with the goal of combating communicable diseases.
2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Justification: The article mentions that the CDC includes an “Office on Smoking and Health.” Smoking is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. The CDC’s mission of “health promotion” and “disease prevention” also supports this target.
3. Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases… provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines…
   • Justification: The article highlights the CDC’s “National Immunization Program” and its work against vaccine-preventable diseases like polio and smallpox. Its status as one of the “world’s foremost epidemiological centres” implies a significant role in research and development related to disease control and vaccination.
4. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
   • Justification: The CDC’s functions include “disease surveillance,” “disease-control data” consolidation, and “disease prevention and preparedness.” Being a leading “epidemiological centre” underscores its role in managing and providing early warnings for national and global health risks.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention explicit numerical indicators, but it implies several that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 3.3 (Communicable Diseases): The focus on fighting “malaria,” “polio,” and “smallpox” implies that progress would be measured by the incidence and prevalence rates of these specific communicable diseases.
• For Target 3.4 (Non-communicable Diseases): The existence of an “Office on Smoking and Health” implies an indicator related to the prevalence of tobacco use as a measure of prevention efforts against non-communicable diseases.
• For Target 3.b (Vaccines): The mention of a “National Immunization Program” points to an indicator such as the proportion of the population covered by essential immunizations.
• For Target 3.d (Health Security): The CDC’s role in “disease surveillance” and “preparedness” implies an indicator related to a country’s capacity for health risk management and public health preparedness, such as the implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: britannica.com