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National Public Health week

April 02, 2007|Melissa Rowland

The first full week in April each year is National Public Health Week. This year from April 2-8, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and its partners will encourage Americans to get prepared for a public health emergency. The theme is, "Take the first Step, Preparedness and Public Health Threats: Addressing the Unique Needs of the Nation's Vulnerable Populations."

Each day will promote a different need of the community. Monday will address mothers with children in the household. Tuesday will look at local food banks. Wednesday will be concerned with hourly wage workers and employers. Thursday will address schools. Friday will look at chronic health care needs, targeting diabetes, asthma, cancer and high blood pressure.

Mothers are relied upon to do multiple daily tasks like getting their children to school, helping with homework and spending time with their children. It is hard to prepare their families for a public health emergency while doing all this.

Local food banks become very important during times of disaster. If local businesses and services cannot provide to the community during a public health threat, food banks become the main source of nourishment. Preparing for a public health threat before a disastrous event makes sure food banks can operate before, during and after an emergency.

Many hourly employees do not have health plans. These workers and their job status could be greatly affected if public transportation was not running and they couldn't get to work.

School administrators, nurses, teachers and staff have a responsibility for all their students in an emergency. Schools have become stricter in certain aspects of school violence and other attacks, but they need to also work toward being prepared for public health emergencies.

People with chronic illnesses also have many particular health needs, including developing a support team to get help during an emergency. There are many things for which a person with a chronic illness needs to be prepared if a public health threat occurs.

APHA will provide customized recommendations, tools and strategies to effectively prepare these different groups. APHA urges everyone, especially these groups more at risk, to develop a comprehensive preparedness plan. If you are included in one of the more vulnerable groups, begin to prepare so a public health threat or emergency doesn't take you by surprise!

The Kentucky Public Health Association, an affiliate of the American Public Health Association, had its annual meeting in Louisville last week. Governor Ernie Fletcher declared the week of March 25 Kentucky Public Health Week to correspond with the conference. For more information about public health and the services offered by the Clark County Health Department, please visit www.clarkhealthdept.org or the APHA site www.apha.org.

Melissa Rowland is a dietetic intern for the Clark County Health Department.

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