Health Awareness Day, April 4, 2007
In 1995, former President William Jefferson Clinton proclaimed the first full week of April as National Public Health Week (NPHW). Each year since then the public health community has focused on issues that are important to improving the public’s health.
We would like you to join us in getting the word out about our Health Awareness day at UIS. The American Public Health Association (APHA) serves as the organizer of NPHW and develops a national campaign to educate the public. This year’s theme is: “Take the first Step! Preparedness and Public Health Threats: Addressing the unique needs of the Nation’s most Vulnerable Populations”. As health educators we need to encourage the most vulnerable populations to effectively prepare for man-made and natural disasters. APHA has long asserted that health care is a human right. Ensuring the conditions for people to be healthy is an essential component in protecting Americans from preventable, serious health problems.
The Health Awareness Day at the UIS campus is one of the ways we educate the University Community and others in the Springfield and surrounding communities. This year in addition to our community and campus attendees we will have 24 kindergarteners from Little Flower school attending. It will be held on Wednesday, April 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and is located in the Public Affairs Center Lobby and conference rooms.
There will be a speaker on “Disaster Preparedness and Volunteers in Public Health”. Time TBA. FREE health screenings include Cholesterol and blood sugar screening, Blood pressure, vision, body fat, and asthma screenings. There will be tobacco cessation information, exercise and nutrition, blood donation sign up, chiropractic and massage booths, Hand washing and pandemic flu information/demonstration, Vegetarian food samples, Springfield Fire Department will have a “smoke house” to simulate what it would be like in a fire, and much, much more.
We will also be having a food drive for Salvation Army and Helping Hands during the event. People can bring non-perishable canned or boxed food to drop off. Direct questions to Tracy Beard at UIS Campus Health Service at 217-206-6676 or tbear2@uis.edu.
