Local health unit to celebrate National Public Health Week
The Garland County Health Unit of the Arkansas Department of Health will observe National Public Health Week from April 3-7.
During that week, the public is encouraged to visit the health unit, located at 1425 Malvern Ave., to learn about services provided by the department.
Public Health Week is observed during the first full week of April each year. It’s a time when health professionals can connect with individuals and communities to show them how overall public health helps Arkansans improve their own health. Department employees can also explain how the unit protects residents from epidemics, and discuss the preventive health services provided within their communities.
This year’s national theme, “Healthiest Nation 2030,” focuses on the steps it will take to make the United States the healthiest nation across the globe in only one generation’s time, by the year 2030.
The ADH is honoring that theme by highlighting the six areas in the department’s strategic plan that will help to make Arkansas a healthier state. These include increasing immunization rates, lowering childhood obesity rates, addressing hypertension, helping Arkansans quit smoking, addressing mental health issues and suicide, and lowering teen birthrates.
“Public Health Week is a great time to commit to being more physically active and eating more fruits and vegetables. It is also a great time to stop using tobacco,” Garland County Health Unit Administrator Chris Rowland said in a news release.
“If we all commit to moving more, eating better and being good-health role models for our children, we can make a big impact on the overall health of Garland County residents, and make a healthier place for our children to grow,” Rowland added.
Garland County is unique in that it has several community gardens, a variety of walking trails for those at any level of fitness, and a farmers
market with fresh produce.
According to the 2016 County Health Rankings, Garland County ranks as the 44th healthiest out of 75 counties in Arkansas. The major factors contributing to this ranking include tobacco use, obesity, low levels of regular physical activity, lack of access to healthy foods in some areas, lack of access to health care, low educational level, high child poverty and unemployment.
With the county’s participation in National Public Health Week, residents can not only gain education about health needs, but also increase their knowledge of how to access services, the release said.