National Public Health Week this April will bring health advocates across the U.S. together around community connectedness and the importance of local health equity.
The overall theme for the April 4-10 celebration is “Public Health Is Where You Are,” which will be complemented by seven daily topics. Monday will focus on racism; Tuesday, the public health workforce; Wednesday, community; Thursday, World Health Day; Friday, accessibility; Saturday, climate change equity; and Sunday, mental wellness.
The daily topics were chosen to showcase the ways public health crosses lives and communities, according to APHA Affiliate Manager Holly Plackemeier. For example, when working to strengthen community resilience, leaders must acknowledge the ways racism has impacted accessibility, health equity and mental health, she said.
“This year’s NPHW theme recognizes that public health is where you are — physically, emotionally and societally,” Plackemeier told The Nation’s Health.
“APHA’s NPHW programming will help inform and inspire health advocates across the nation to improve their individual and communities’ health.” NPHW offers health supporters an opportunity to engage communities around public health and raise awareness. Students, health and medical professionals, community leaders, elected officials and the general public are encouraged to plan events, proclamations and other activities. People seeking ideas can look to the NPHW website, which will offer a planning toolkit, or get inspired by past events.
Last year at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, for instance, planners organized online presentations, interactive games, outdoor challenges and service to the community.
Discussions were also held on topics such as the history of residential and social segregation in the city. In Rhode Island, Brown University’s School of Public Health offered daily podcasts during NPHW. During one, podcasters discussed a Mississippi program that utilizes churches to reach disadvantaged communities to effect better health and wellness.
Special events to be led by APHA during NPHW 2022 are Student Day, happening Tuesday, a live online forum and a Twitter chat. APHA is also hosting the Keep It Moving Challenge, where people join teams and get active, entering steps and other physical activities on a shared fitness app. Last year’s fitness challenge motivated 213 teams to take over 780 million steps during the three-month challenge. To register, visit the NPHW website.
For more information on NPHW including planning and promotion tools, visit www.nphw.org.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
