National Public Health Week celebrates bridges to health
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* Mark Barna

National Public Health Week will again be virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the observance will not be diminished.

As shown at APHA’s 2020 Annual Meeting and Expo — attended virtually by 9,400 people — public health learning, networking and socializing can take place remotely when needed.

“Though we may be physically distanced from one another, the public health challenges in the U.S. make it vital that we unite at this very important time,” Lindsey Wahowiak, APHA director of Affiliate affairs, who coordinates the annual NPHW observance, told *The Nation’s Health*. “Coming together helps us share ideas that can make our communities healthier, safer and better for all.”

The theme for the April 5-11 celebration, which will be observed by agencies, organizations, campuses and other partners across the country, is “Building Bridges to Better Health.”

Seven daily themes complement the main theme. Monday will focus on rebuilding; Tuesday, advancing racial equity; Wednesday, strengthening community; Thursday, galvanizing climate justice; Friday, constructing COVID-19 resilience; Saturday, uplifting mental health and wellness; and Sunday, elevating the essential and health workforces.

NPHW offers public health professionals a chance to engage communities and amplify a positive health message. Hundreds of partners take part each year, motivating students, health care professionals, advocates and the general public to strive to make their communities and the U.S. healthier.

Now is the time for supporters to start preparing activities, and inspiration can be taken from the success of last year’s virtual NPHW, a change announced just two weeks before the weeklong celebration began.

NPHW 2020 organizers moved their activities online, sharing public health information on social media, websites, conferencing sites and webinar platforms. Some participants created and posted videos to celebrate public health and front-line workers.

For example, Hofstra University virtually held a series of discussions on COVID-19, while APHA and other partners held an online discussion on climate change. The Rhode Island Public Health Association released a video encouraging high school and college students to consider careers in public health.

Special events will be led by APHA during NPHW 2021 as well, including a forum, Twitter chat and the Association’s Policy Action Institute.

Staying active is a great way to stay healthy, but COVID-19 has made that harder. APHA will help people get back on track with the Keep It Moving Challenge, in which teams compete by entering their activity on a shared fitness app. Last year’s iteration of the challenge had 415 teams logging 1.8 billion steps.

For more information on NPHW including planning and promotion tools, visit [www.nphw.org](http://www.nphw.org).

*   Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association