APHA, Partner Organizations Seek Lasting Change
National Public Health Week 2009, with its theme "Building the Foundation for a Healthy America," wraps up today. Coordinated by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the week is supported by more than 500,000 public health workers nationwide and many partner organizations.
APHA launched this year's week with a "viral video campaign" via the Web site www.generationpublichealth.org, which invited visitors to share their stories, make a tax-deductible donation, join APHA, and commit to making the United States the world's healthiest nation within a generation.
"With debate around health reform under way, this year's theme is particularly timely and relevant," said Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of APHA. "As a nation, we spend far more on health care than any other country, yet we fall short in many of the important measures of what it means to be healthy. Investing in public health, focusing on communities to prevent disease and injury, and promoting healthy behaviors are essential if we hope to succeed in improving health, reducing costs, and reforming our health system."
National Public Health Week 2009 resources, including a long list of national, state, and local partner organizations with their Web sites as active links, are available at this site.