News Release

April 4, 2005

GREENE COUNTY COMBINED HEALTH DISTRICT
ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK
APRIL 4 – 10, 2005

 (XENIA, OH) Mark A. McDonnell, Health Commissioner, Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has announced that the District will be celebrating National Public Health Week, Empowering Americans to Live Stronger, Longer, April 4 – 10, 2005.

This year’s theme, Empowering Americans to Live Stronger, Longer, encourages older Americans to overcome barriers to health care and actively improve the quality of their lives.

The goals include: to encourage Americans over age 65 to get a health risk assessment and create a health management plans based on the three Ps, prevention, protection, and planning; encourage family members of those over age 65 to assist their older relatives in practicing the three Ps; and educate policymakers about barriers and how simple policy changes can make it easier for Americans to live stronger and longer. National Public Health Week recommendations for older Americans three Ps includes:

PREVENT Problems From Happening: keep immunizations up to date; taking their prescribed medicines; get a flu immunization; prevent falls by removing tripping hazards and install grab bars, adopt a healthy lifestyle though participation in physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco products;

PROTECT Your Health Through Early Detection: get all recommended screenings (cancer, diabetes, vision and hearing), especially a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (these are covered by Medicare); and   

PLAN To Stay Healthy: create and follow an action plan for minimizing identified health risks; and when an illness is detected, follow the prescribed treatment.

For additional information regarding National Public Health Week, contact Greene County Combined Health District, Director of Health Education, Sara T. Pappa, at (937) 374-5600 or toll-free at 1-866-858-3588.

 Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 70 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

 #