Get Healthy Carson City: April is Public Health Month

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

During the first full week of April each year, the American Public Health Association (APHA) brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week as a time to recognize the values of public health programs and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation. However, Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is extremely excited to promote healthy living activities in our community and has decided to observe National Public Health Week throughout the entire month of April. A proclamation for Public Health Month will be presented to Mayor Bob Crowell and the Board of Supervisors on Thursday, April 7.

While APHA is focusing on more global issues during National Public Health Week, such as the health effects of climate change and relationships between increased economic mobility and better health, Carson City Health and Human Services has chosen to take a local approach to Public Health Month. This year’s theme for Public Health Month is Building a Healthy Community: It Takes a Village.

Although CCHHS is actively working to improve health outcomes in our city, the health department must also rely on services provided by community partners to address issues such as obesity, heart disease, substance abuse and mental/behavioral health. This is primarily due to the lack of public health funding in our state. In 2015, Trust for America’s Health noted Nevada ranked 51st in state public health spending per capita. Just like a family, our community’s health organizations have learned to rely on each other in times of need.

Activities for Public Health Month include a “Building a Health Community” video campaign to be released on Friday, April 8. In addition, Carson City Health and Human Services will be sharing a series of public health facts specific to our community on the health department’s social media pages.

Also, CCHHS is hosting a town hall opportunity for members of the community to speak with key public figures on health issues in our community on Thursday, April 28 at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Bristlecone Room (off of first floor lobby), 1600 Medical Parkway, Carson City, 89703. The event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration begins at 5 p.m. Refreshments will be provided by Partnership Carson City. The first 30 participants to arrive will receive a free emergency preparedness kit.

For more information about Public Health Month, visit our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org, or check our social media pages: Facebook www.facebook.com/cchhs; Twitter @CCHealthEd; Instagram @GetHealthyCarsonCity.

To learn more about National Public Health Week, visit http://www.nphw.org/. To learn more about Trust for America’s Health, visit http://healthyamericans.org/.