WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., has introduced a resolution to designate April 5 - 11 as National Public Health Week. The measure, which has also been introduced by U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard in the House, would recognize and highlight the importance of public health in preventing disease and promoting good health.
National Public Health Week is sponsored by the American Public Health Association and seeks to educate the public, policy-makers and public health professionals about issues important to improving public health. This year's theme is "A Healthier America: One Community at a Time."
"Recognizing National Public Health Week will serve as an important reminder for individuals, families and communities to focus on stopping preventable diseases before they start," Udall said. "If we make better choices as individuals and families to promote healthier lifestyles at home, school and work, we can have a major impact on the public's health today. I appreciate the leadership and advocacy of these public health groups because they encourage communities to plan and make healthy choices so we can spend less time and resources treating diseases and save more lives by preventing them."
"National Public Health Week offers a reminder to all of our nation's families that many of the choices we make in our daily lives directly determine how long we live and how well we live," said Roybal-Allard, who co-founded the Congressional Study Group on Public Health and is a member of the Appropriations Health Subcommittee. "We can no longer ignore the science that links nearly 60 percent of premature deaths in our country to unhealthy behavioral choices, as well as environmental conditions and social circumstances. National Public Health Week is a call to action. I urge everyone to learn more about the small, yet crucial, behavioral changes that we can make to prevent chronic diseases. These changes include adopting better eating habits, exercising more, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding cigarette smoking. In our homes, schools and in our communities, we all have an important role to play in the effort to achieve healthier futures for all of us."
"In order to become a healthier nation, we need policymakers to set the example and demonstrate a strong commitment to issues of public health and building frameworks for healthier communities," said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. "We applaud Sen. Udall and Rep. Roybal-Allard for their leadership. We look forward to a successful National Public Health Week this April and encourage all to learn how they can become involved."
The resolution is expected to be passed by the Senate before the end of the week.
