Can the CDC Help Prevent Suicide

Bombings? Published November 20, 2008 on UPIU.com

By jack turner

George Mason University

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been in the business of
preventing and controlling public health threats for six decades.1 Can a public health
agency like the CDC help to prevent and control the problem of suicide bombing? Why
would they even try?

Consider these facts:

1. The CDC’s primary goal is prevention of public health threats and the dissemination of
reliable health information to the general public, community organizations, health care
providers, and government agencies.

2. The CDC has a proven track record at achieving public health goals by promoting and
facilitating cooperative relationships between local communities, government agencies,
and the medical community.

3. Since September 11, 2001, the CDC has led the U.S. and other nations in creating
emergency preparedness plans for bioterrorism and other critical public health threats.

4. The CDC’s unique organizational culture puts public health first and sends a clear
message of cooperation, respect, and trustworthiness to the communities and agencies
with which it partners.

Historically, The CDC has had great successes in protecting the public against
health threats and thereby helping to preserve the national security of the U.S. Among its
many accomplishments are controlling the spread of infectious diseases, reducing the
death rate from heart disease, and promoting work place safety. More recently, the CDC
has developed local and national violence prevention programs and emergency plans for
preventing and responding to bioterrorism attacks.

Because the CDC strives to prevent public health threats before they begin, it may
be an ideal government agency to help prevent suicide bombings as part of its national
security responsibilities. Suicide bombers depend upon strong support from the
community’s they operate within to achieve their terrorist goals. The community-based
public health programs administered by the CDC could be directed to not only monitor
community health, but to also monitor community attitudes toward suicide bombing.
The CDC has an obvious advantage over other government agencies in its ability to
encourage a culture of cooperation and optimistic communication between opposing
factions. In contrast to the adversarial positions often communicated by military, law
enforcement, and intelligence services to communities supporting terrorism, the CDC’s
organizational culture of public health promotion could send messages of cooperation,
respect, and trustworthiness throughout at-risk communities. The CDC’s best prevention
plan for reducing the risk of suicide bombings may be the same plan it has already
succeeded with: Empowering and training local communities and their governments to
share a realistic vision and concrete plans for a better future.