In Search of a Healthier USA
Events and outreach for National Public Health Week 2014 emphasize emergency preparedness, disease prevention, and healthy diets and lifestyles.
The American Public Health Association kicked off National Public Health Week 2014 on April 7 by hosting a forum at Kaiser Family Foundation offices in Washington, D.C., on "Creating the Healthiest Nation Through System Transformation." A panel discussed how the public health community can work with traditional and non-traditional partners to champion health for all and implement strategies to eliminate health disparities. The forum included an introduction from APHA Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin and a keynote address by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh, MPH.
The week has a different theme every day, and CDC is joining APHA to promote them:
- April 7: Be healthy from the start. From maternal health and school nutrition to emergency preparedness, public health starts at home. Let us show you around. Public health starts at home. From family nutrition and maternal health to safety precautions and disaster preparedness, the first step the community takes toward public health are in the comfort of their own home. Empower your community to take action at home through better meal planning, conducting safety upgrades and preparing for emergencies.
- April 8: Don't panic. Disaster preparedness starts with community-wide commitment and action. We're here to help you weather the unexpected. Public health professionals help communities withstand the impact of a natural or man-made disaster by planning ahead, acting as a source of information during the crisis and helping to mitigate the long- and short-term effects. During NPHW 2014, share tips for disaster preparedness with your community so they can take steps at home to plan ahead for the unexpected. Visit APHA's Get Ready campaign to learn more and help Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all disasters and hazards, including pandemic flu, infectious disease, natural disasters and other emergencies.
- April 9: Get out ahead. Prevention is now a nationwide priority. Let us show you where you fit in. Today, seven in 10 deaths in the U.S. are related to preventable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Another striking fact is that 75 percent of our health care dollars are spent treating such diseases. However, only 3 percent of our health care dollars go toward prevention.
- April 10: Eat well. The system that keeps our nation's food safe and healthy is complex. APHA and partners offer help in making good choices.
- April 11: Be the healthiest nation in one generation. This theme emphasizes best practices for community health from around the world.
President Obama issued a proclamation for the week that says, in part: "Public health measures play a critical role in keeping us safe in the places we live, work, and come together, and in improving health outcomes in our communities. During National Public Health Week, we celebrate the tireless efforts of our public health professionals and recommit to building a brighter future for all Americans."