Public Health Month

Four Corners Health Department joins the nation in recognizing April as Public Health Month and by highlighting “Start Small, Think Big” public health initiatives.

York, Nebraska, April, 2010 - Public health leaders across the country are calling on Americans to commit to making America a healthier nation, one community at a time. Four Corners Health Department knows that each person has a role in making a community healthy and a healthier place to live. In all of our individual neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and families, we’re asking everyone to start spreading the word that each of us can make a difference.

Our nation’s health is in poor shape, despite the fact that we spend more money on health care than any other country.
Nearly 900,000 people die from deaths that can be prevented each year.
For the first time, American children may live shorter lives than their parents.
Nearly 1 in 3 children are overweight or obese.
An estimated 46 million people or 20.6 percent of all adults (aged 18 years and older) in the United States currently smoke cigarettes.

Communities are not just residents who live together in the same neighborhood. Communities are groups of people who work together for a common good. Some communities plant gardens to create food security and recreational opportunities, while others work to ensure their homes are lead-free. Some communities work to ensure members have access to health care services that focus on both treatment and prevention, and others advocate for safe roads and recycling programs.

Everyone in your community, including agencies, community organization partners, emergency services personnel, and the general public, has a role to play in improving public health. Work with the Four Corners Public Health Department to determine what is – or is not – being done well in your community and how things can be improved.

Strong communities also depend on the health of our families. Public health affects all of our families, across all generations. This includes prenatal care, childcare classes, access to healthy and nutritious foods, and even at-home care.

Public Health Month is a time to celebrate advancements in public health, to assess our nation’s current public health status, and to highlight the importance of taking action.
Public health is a part of our everyday lives - from the water we drink and the air we breathe, to the laws that protect us from injury and the vaccines that help us stay healthy.

America should be a place where everyone has access to health care and preventative services, where we’re celebrated for embracing healthy lifestyles, and where our communities and neighborhoods make it easier for us to live healthy choices.
The goal is to become the healthiest nation in one generation.

We can reach our goal if we start small, think big. If every one of us commits to promoting good health in our communities, we can make a difference. We can create a collage of public health successes across the country.

Start small: Make just one positive health change today. Maybe eat one more fruit or vegetable, take the stairs or schedule a checkup with your doctor. Make another positive change tomorrow and the next day. Before you know it, you’ll have made significant progress toward a healthier you and a healthier America.

Think big: You have the power to make positive health changes in your community. Think about what your community needs most — better running trails, public transportation options, more recycling centers — and brainstorm solutions. Tell others about your ideas and take action. Let your elected officials know why public health is important and why they should support public health programs. Make your voice heard!

“Our ultimate goal is to make America the healthiest nation in one generation. We envision our nation as a place where everyone has access to health care and services, and a healthy lifestyle is celebrated,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of the American Public Health Association. “We want to make it easy for communities to make healthy choices every day. If we each commit to promoting good health in our communities, we can create a ripple effect across our neighborhoods, our cities, states and, hopefully, our nation.”

“We can make a real difference if we commit to healthy behaviors for ourselves, our children, and our families,” said Vicki L. Duey, Four Corners Health Department Executive Director. “We will find real change when we shift from a health system that is paid for treatment to one that is focused on the prevention of disease and injury. Individuals and communities must adopt public health policies and practices that keep us all healthy. “

“We need to recognize that public health requires much more than eating fruits and vegetables, getting vaccinations, and quitting smoking,” said Duey. “We must think more broadly about what we can do to improve our communities on a larger scale.”

For more ideas about to make your community a healthier community, contact Four Corners Health Department at 402-362-2621, toll-free at 877-337-3573, or www.fourcorners.ne.gov.

Let’s become the healthiest nation in 1 generation – one community at a time. A healthier America begins with you.