Community Organizations Showcase Efforts to Design Healthy Communities and Raise Healthy Kids During Public Health Week
Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 12:00 CDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania will encourage communities to work harder to raise healthy children during Public Health Week, April 3-9.
At the direction of Governor Edward G. Rendell, state Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson will share that message as he travels the commonwealth paying tribute to organizations dedicated to the promotion of public health.
"Designing Healthy Communities: Raising Healthy Kids" is the theme of this year's celebration.
"Since the creation of the Department of Health 100 years ago, public health has expanded to include more than just the fight against diseases like measles and polio," Dr. Johnson said. "Now, we're placing a special emphasis on efforts to ensure that Pennsylvanians, especially children, focus on becoming healthy."
Public Health Week is celebrated nationally each year to raise public awareness about critical health issues and encourage people to take action to remedy those challenges.
In his proposed 2006-07 budget, Governor Rendell introduced Cover All Kids to provide access to affordable, comprehensive health care coverage for all uninsured children in Pennsylvania. Doctor's visits, immunizations and maternity care are some of the things the expanded program would cover.
"At the Department of Health, we are always working to prevent tobacco use among youth, educate parents and students about the dangers of obesity, and ensure that school-age children receive health services - such as medical and dental examinations, as well as health screenings - through our school health program," Dr. Johnson said. "Public Health Week provides the perfect opportunity to highlight what other organizations are doing to promote public health in the commonwealth."
Dr. Johnson will kick off the statewide tour at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, at Swaney Elementary School in Uniontown, Fayette County, where he will participate in a "Take 10" program with students. "Take 10" encourages students to spend 10 minutes midmorning engaging in some form of physical activity such as taking a walk around the school.
For more information on Public Health Week, and Dr. Johnson's stops along the way, visit http://www.health.state.pa.us/. For more information about Cover All Kids, visit http://www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/lib/governor/CoverAllKids_factsheet.p df.
CONTACT: Ella Kuratomi
717-787-1783
Pennsylvania Department of Health
CONTACT: Ella Kuratomi, Pennsylvania Department of Health,+1-717-787-1783
Web site: http://www.health.state.pa.us/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Legislation Introduced to Fight Childhood Obesity in Ohio
- Author Brittany Johnson Creates Unique Children's 'Back To School' Fall Shopping Book
- Davis Vision, Visionworks, United Concordia Dental and Louisiana State University School of Dentistry Partner with Hands on New Orleans
- Fort Greene/Downtown Brooklyn Community Focuses on Welcoming Healthy Children Back to School This Fall
- Governor Rendell Proclaims 'Farm Safety & Health Week' in Pennsylvania
- Flexibility Meets Accountability: State Charter School Laws and Their Influence on the Formation of Charter Schools in the United States
- Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says State Support for Wilkes-Barre Revitalization Projects Translating Into Positive Growth for Region
- Governor Rendell Proclaims 'Farm Safety & Health Week' in Pennsylvania
- Indonesian children return to school after tsunami
- Celebrating 100 Years of Health. The Quest for a Healthy America
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds