Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits UNMC, praises Nebraska’s role in nutrition initiatives
OMAHA, Neb. (KLKN) – The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., toured the quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center on Thursday.
After he was done, he thanked Gov. Jim Pillen, University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffery Gold and UNMC staff for the work they did in monitoring and containing the 18 Americans exposed to Hantavirus in May, then went over major health initiatives.
“Nebraska Medicine and UNMC received them at the National Quarantine Unit, protected the public, cared for the people involved, and completed the operation with zero detected cases. That is preparedness,” said Kennedy.
“We are now in the process of setting up a biocontainment center in Kenya, and the peer review for readiness will be done by people at this facility.”
Kennedy also pointed out America’s success in containing measles cases amidst global outbreaks.
He attributed the success to the nation’s willingness to vaccinate, while also taking a moment to praise the new vaccination schedule for kids, released by the Trump administration.
Despite the praise, Kennedy stated that American children are some of the unhealthiest in the world when it comes to nutrition.
Nebraska, however, he said is leading the way in promoting food as medicine, referencing the fact that Nebraska is the first state to remove soda pop from SNAP benefits.
Kennedy then introduced one of his newest initiatives on nutrition education.
The program requires participating medical schools to provide at least 40 hours of training so that future physicians can understand how to use nutrition to treat chronic disease.
“Almost 80 institutions of higher education across 36 states have committed to strengthening nutrition education, reaching over 52,000 medical students this autumn,” he said. “Nebraska helped lead that effort from the beginning.”
Governor Pillen, in agreeance, said “The best practices in the world are being developed by the people here. It might seem astonishing to some, not at all to me.”
Other topics discussed at Thursday’s press conference included progress being made with rural healthcare initiatives.
“Nebraska has earned about $218 million in its first-year award, the eighth highest award of any state in the country,” said Kennedy about funding awarded by the federal government.
“That’s because you put in a really good application,” he added.
Kennedy also talked about Nebraska becoming the first state to implement Medicaid work requirements.
“HHS and CMS are providing $200 million in government efficiency grants to modernize Medicaid eligibility and enrollment system,” he said.
“Private sector technology companies have committed more than $600 million in additional support, and that law also tackles the distortions in Medicaid financing.”
