Little Rock, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is celebrating National Public Health Week (NPHW) April 2-6.
NPHW is observed during the first full week of April each year. During the week, health professionals connect with individuals and communities to show how public health helps Arkansans improve their own health, protects them from epidemics and provides preventive health services in their communities. This year’s national theme, “Healthiest Nation 2030, Changing our Future Together,” focuses on the steps it will take to make the United States the healthiest nation in one generation – by 2030.
ADH, along with statewide health and public health partners, are honoring this theme through events and social media. To celebrate this theme, ADH has partnered with the Cabot School District to highlight second- through fourth-grade student drawings in ADH’s yearly Public Health Week poster. These drawings, part of an annual contest in Lonoke County, show students’ ideas about what it means to make healthy choices.
Stephanie Williams, ADH Deputy Director for Programs, met with students whose work was featured in the poster in an event on April 2.
“It’s important that Arkansas is a healthy place for our children to learn and grow,” Williams said. “ADH is pleased to support our children’s vision of what a healthy state looks like.”
NPHW is also the perfect time to learn about the services that ADH has available for Arkansans. There is at least one Local Health Unit (LHU) in each county in Arkansas. LHUs offer many services, including: immunizations; the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; HIV and STD testing; woman’s health services; tuberculosis treatment; and environmental health services.
For more information about National Public Health Week 2018 in Arkansas, Healthy Active Arkansas, and the services that ADH provides, visitwww.healthy.arkansas.gov.