HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Medical personnel here are recognizing National Public Health Week April 4 to 10.
Recognized annually throughout the first full week of April, NPHW celebrates the contributions of public health professionals, and highlights topics important to improving the nation’s health. The 2022 theme is “Public Health is Where You Are,” and focuses on the important role individuals play in the overall wellness of their communities.
“Our work is truly based in preventative measures, with a lot of focus on outreach, surveillance and research, along with the behind-the-scenes work required to take care of our community,” said Tech. Sgt. Yesenia Benjamin, 66th Medical Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of the Public Health Element.
While Hanscom Public Health professionals played a critical role in the community’s COVID-19 response, she said her team does far more than just track and respond to infectious diseases.
“The health of our community includes its overall social, mental, and emotional wellness, so we’re here to support those pillars as well,” she said.
According to the American Public Health Association, the 2022 NPHW will feature daily themes and topics, which officials say are critical to cultivating the healthiest nation.
Themes include:
Racism: A Public Health Crisis (Monday)
Public Health Workforce: Essential to our Future (Tuesday)
Community: Collaboration and Resilience (Wednesday)
World Health Day: Health is a Human Right (Thursday)
Accessibility: Closing the Health Equity Gap (Friday)
Climate Change: Taking Action for Equity (Saturday)
Mental Wellness: Redefining the Meaning of Health (Sunday)
Senior Airman Ananieze Shelton, 66 MDS Public Health technician, said he believes the last two years have changed the way people value public health for preventative physical and mental wellness.
“We’ve really seen firsthand how important public health is to our future, but not just physical prevention of diseases,” said Shelton. “We’ve also seen how our interactions with each other and mental wellness play into our health.” said Shelton.
Benjamin and Shelton said their team is looking forward to highlighting the themes through additional resources and programs on base to ensure the health and wellness of the Hanscom communities on and off the installation.
“Public Health is something we all can participate in,” said Benjamin. “It’s about helping and supporting each other before you ever need to come in for care.”