During the first full week of April each year, American Public Health Association brings together communities across the United States to observe National Public Health Week.  This is a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation. Public Health strives to ensure that everyone has a chance at a long and healthy life. In order to do so, we must tackle the underlying causes of poor health and risk of disease. Those causes are rooted in how and where we live, learn, work and play. That’s why, during National Public Health Week 2018, Generation Public Health is rallying around a goal of making the U.S. the “Healthiest Nation in One Generation by 2030.”

Each day of National Public Health Week focuses on a different Public Health topic. Monday is behavioral health, Tuesday is communicable diseases, Wednesday is environmental health, Thursday is injury and violence prevention, and Friday is ensuring the right to health. This year’s theme is “Changing Our Future Together,” and together is the only way we as a nation can move towards being the healthiest nation we can be.

Public Health encompasses so many aspects of our daily lives that often go unnoticed. Public Health ensures the water you drink and the places you eat are safe. Public Health ensures individuals are vaccinated and the spread of diseases are monitored and controlled as best as possible, in order to protect others from getting infected. Public Health works with individuals to be aware of risk factors associated with certain activities, such as smoking or using a tanning bed. Public Health also works with individuals to encourage healthier habits and to provide the resources needed to do so. Public Health is all around you in your community and all the various aspects of Public Health are needed to help move us toward being the “Healthiest Nation in One Generation by 2030.”

Beaufort County Health Department is bringing awareness to National Public Health Week with their Annual 411 Community Health Fair. This year’s 411 Health Fair will be held April 14, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Beaufort County Health Department grounds, located at 1436 Highland Drive, Washington. Rain or shine! The Health Fair will include prevention aspects, such as skin and breast cancer screenings, glucose and A1C testing and other wellness checks. The event is free and kid-friendly! Bring your friends and family and join the Beaufort County Health Department as we celebrate National Public Health Week.

JaNell Lewis, MPH, is the human services planner IV/preparedness coordinator at Beaufort County Public Health Department and can be reached at 252-940-5090 or Janell.lewis@bchd.net.