National Public Health Week a time to remember steps to better health
National Public Health Week begins Monday and it’s a great time to be appreciative of the people and organizations who give Americans opportunities to improve their physical and mental well-being. It’s also a time to remember even the smallest things enable us to be our healthiest.
We can all be a part of a healthier community. Many decisions – immunizations, not using tobacco, moderate or no alcohol intake – are obvious and have been drilled into us our entire lives. But more and more, we’re learning smaller things – drink more water, get up from a desk and move around – can lead to better overall health.
Local governments and schools, as well as private companies, do many things daily that lead to better public health. Many services are taken for granted.
In Wichita and surrounding communities, parks departments provide public spaces where we can get out of the house and exercise, from rigorous running to gentle walking. Exercise of any type remains a key component in good health.
The city’s bicycle master plan has more than 100 miles of paths, lanes and other bike-friendly facilities. Motorists sometimes complain of confusion driving alongside marked bicycle lanes, but the lanes have made it easier for bicyclists to connect to paths throughout the city.
In Sedgwick County, the county’s Division of Health is the leader at reducing the risk of health threats and promoting wellness. Through its services, the Health Department focuses on children and family health, health protection, preventative health and public health performance.
Education is a key component in public health. Studies make it clear poverty can lead to poor health, and the more educated a person is, the less chance he has of living in poverty.
Our schools are also factors in nutrition for low-income students who need school-provided breakfasts and lunches each day. Summer lunch programs also provide valuable nutrition even though school isn’t in session.
Public health, of course, is a daily duty for us all. From buckling a seat belt to choosing a more nutritious option for a side dish at dinner, we all make little choices that can lead to better health. National Public Health Week is a reminder that the choices we make and the services that public and private partners provide lead to a healthier community.
This story was originally published March 30, 2018 at 5:00 AM with the headline "National Public Health Week a time to remember steps to better health."