2720 - Legislative declaration.

§  2720.  Legislative  declaration.    The  rising  incidence of heart  disease, strokes and hypertension over the past twenty years has  caused  increasing  awareness  and  concern  among  public  health officials and  private practitioners. It is imperative that new concepts  be  developed  to  combat  the  problems  of  heart disease, stroke and hypertension by  attempting to reduce the causes leading to these diseases.  The  program  provided  by  this  article is designed to prevent heart disease, stroke  and hypertension by concentrating on the  elimination  of  risk  factors  associated  therewith.  In  order  to  provide  for  the  protection and  promotion of the health of the inhabitants of the state, the  department  of  health  shall  have the central and comprehensive responsibility for  the development and administration of the state's policy with respect to  the conduct of scientific  investigation  and  research  concerning  the  causes, prevention, treatment and care of hypertension.