National Public Health Week, April 5-11, is especially important this year as the pandemic has impacted our physical health and well-being. On Thursday, April 1, the Board of County Commissioners signed a proclamation to recognize NPHW. Watch a video message from Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Director Dr. Sanmi Areola. The video about the importance of making public health a priority was shared at yesterday’s BOCC meeting.

“Health is broader than health care and is impacted by many factors” Dr. Areola said. “To ensure and promote better health for Johnson County residents, we must intentionally consider the implications of our actions and policies on health. We must invest in public health so that we can create conditions that promote health where we live, work and play. It’s how our social and physical environments impact our health. It’s paying attention to our mental health, access to healthy foods, access to transportation, safe and adequate housing, and addressing the things that divide us and bring us together as a community.”

Join us in celebrating all areas of public health in a social media campaign. Beginning, Monday, April 5, Johnson County will focus on a different part of public health each day with a Johnson County-specific video message on social media. You can also check out the latest JoCo on the Go podcast next week, which will focus on how our social and physical environments contribute to health.

• Monday, April 5: Rebuilding
• Tuesday, April 6: Advancing racial equity
• Wednesday, April 7: Strengthening community
• Thursday, April 8: Galvanizing climate justice
• Friday, April 9: Building COVID-19 resilience
• Saturday, April 10: Uplifting mental health and wellness
• Sunday, April 11: Elevating the essential and health workforce

Use or follow #NPHW all next week. Get more information about National Public Health Week.