What is a winnable battle? -- Why has CDC chosen to focus on these particular health areas when there are so many pressing health issues? -- What about other important health issues that are not reflected in this list? -- Has a list of priorities like this ever been released before by CDC? -- Will each area have a “battle plan”? -- What does CDC propose to do to address these issues? -- What will constitute a “win”? -- Does CDC plan to re-direct its budget to these priority areas? -- Does CDC plan to identify additional winnable battles?

“Winnable battles” describe public health priorities where CDC and public health can make significant progress in a relatively short

timeframe – generally within one to four years. To date, CDC has identified the following domestic Winnable Battles with a substantial

focus on prevention in the following areas:

• Healthcare-associated infections

• HIV

• Motor vehicle injuries

• Nutrition, physical activity, obesity and food safety

• Teen pregnancy

• Tobacco

CDC also has made a commitment to prevention around the world with the following global Winnable Battles:

• Mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis globally

• Global immunization, including polio eradication

• Lymphatic filariasis in the Americas

• Motor vehicle injuries

• Tobacco

wb_general_faqs.pdf

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection

United States