By Elaine Baumgartel
Albuquerque, NM – The Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health yesterday announced cuts to services and facilities as a result of an over $24 million reduction in state funding. Secretary Alfredo Vigil says all programs are important but that there isn't enough money to fully fund all programs.
The Public Health Division faces cuts of over $17 million which will lead to reductions in support for programs including rural primary health care, family planning, immunizations and prevention of youth suicide. Community health councils will lose $3 million while substance abuse prevention programs will lose $2.8 million.
Vigil says the department will work to minimize the impacts of the budget cuts that he says will affect New Mexicans in almost all communities.
