April 2-8, 2012 has been declared National Public Health Week, an annual campaign sponsored for the past 16 years by the National Public Health Association, “aimed at educating the public, policy-makers and the public health community about critical public health challenges facing the nation.”
This year’s theme, “A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement,” focuses on disease prevention and health promotion. Events are being planned nationwide to help educate the public about what each of us can do to prevent disease and promote wellness for ourselves, our families and our communities.
“With nearly 1 million Americans dying every year from diseases that could be prevented, even small preventive changes and community initiatives can make a big difference in living healthier lives,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), a non-profit organization.
Information on National Public Health Week
APHA’s website provides extensive information about National Public Health Week.
Additional information is available from USA.gov, and from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) (focusing on the 2011 theme of National Public Health Week: “Injury and Violence: A Preventable Public Health Problem”).
According to APHA, “The National Prevention Strategy, the first-ever comprehensive plan developed by a wide array of federal agencies and national experts to improve the health of all Americans across the lifespan, serves as a centerpiece for this year’s campaign.” More information on the National Prevention Strategy is found at HealthCare.gov.
Information and resources on Women’s Health and wellness is available from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health, which has announced that May 13-19, 2012 has been set aside as National Women’s Health Week.
Following is a news release about National Public Health Week 2012 issued by the National Public Health Association (NPHA):
Through the theme “A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement,” this year’s campaign focuses on disease prevention and health promotion. The National Prevention Strategy, the first-ever comprehensive plan developed by a wide array of federal agencies and national experts to improve the health of all Americans across the lifespan, also serves as a centerpiece for this year’s campaign.
“With nearly 1 million Americans dying every year from diseases that could be prevented, even small preventive changes and community initiatives can make a big difference in living healthier lives,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. “This week, as public health takes center stage, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the public health community and recognize that each and every one of us has a role to play in improving the health of ourselves, our families and our communities.”
For more than 15 years, the American Public Health Association has hosted National Public Health Week. NPHW events are occurring in communities around the nation. Check out our calendar to see if there is an event being held in your area. Here’s a quick look at just a few taking place this week:
- LIVE Twitter chat today at 1 p.m. ET via #NPHWchat. Chat with APHA’s Georges Benjamin about the National Prevention Strategy, a major theme of this year’s NPHW
- Panel discussion on the impact of alcohol use and injuries and violence at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health on Tuesday, April 3
- Walk with U.S. Surgeon General and APHA Leaders for NPHW on Wednesday, April 4, at the Colorado Center for Health and Wellness
- NPHW forum to address the correlation of mental health, equity and substance abuse at Morgan State University on Friday, April 6.”
More Information
See related HelpingYouCare™ reports on:
National Prevention Strategy Released June 16 Under Affordable Care Act
June is National Prevention and Wellness Month
Medicare’s Free Annual Wellness Visits
$137 Million for Prevention & Health Programs is Granted to States under Affordable Care Act
Which States Have the Best and Worst Health Rankings in 2011?
HHS Notes Successes of Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) on its 2-Year Anniversary
For more information on disease prevention, wellness and healthy living for seniors and caregivers, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on Wellness/ Healthy Living for Seniors & Caregivers, including:
- Diet & Nutrition: Physical Wellness;
- Exercise: Physical Wellness;
- Sleep, Hygiene, Quit Smoking & Other Healthy Practices: Physical Wellness;
- Activities to Preserve Mental Acuity: Intellectual Wellness;
- Social Interaction & A Sense of Connection With Others: Social Wellness;
- Other Areas of Wellness: Emotional, Ethical/ Spiritual & Vocational Wellness; and
- Examples of Healthy Aging: Stories of Inspiring Seniors.
See also the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on 14 different Medical Conditions Commonly Faced by Seniors, including Prevention and other resource pages for each of these 14 conditions on:
- What is it; Causes;
- Symptoms & Diagnosis;
- Prevention;
- Treatments; and
- Caregiving.
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