Jill Tokuda: “The United States Public Health Service Commission Corps is one of the Nation's uniformed service branches on the front…”

“The United States Public Health Service Commission Corps is one of the Nation's uniformed service branches on the front lines of public health access across our country and our world. Since wildfires destroyed Lahaina last August, 86 officers have been deployed to Maui to support behavioral health, disaster recovery, and environmental health responses. They provided clinical care, created safe spaces for people to face their trauma, and made sure that first responders got the mental health support they needed, too. They even help initiate a biosurveillance program to monitor toxic exposure on first responders and the Hawaii National Guard. Understanding the importance of meeting people where they are at, they provided services at schools, at congregate and non-congregate shelters, and at community events. Working with trusted local entities, they developed a mandatory cultural briefing for all responders, greatly enhancing their ability to care for a community in crisis. The next time you thank our uniformed service branches for their service to our country, remember the men and the women of the Public Health Corps. When the health and wellbeing of our communities are on the line, when you need them, they will be there. ____________________”