Public Health Week promotes preventative care

  • Published
  • By Lauren Russell
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Medical personnel here are recognizing National Public Health Week April 3 to 9.

Recognized annually the first full week of April, NPHW celebrates the contributions of health professionals around the globe and encourages education about preventative care. 

“Our sole job is to make sure the information is out there for our community and to keep anything from deterring the mission,” said Tech. Sgt. Anna John, 66 MDS noncommissioned officer in charge of the Public Health Element.

Each day during the week, officials feature themes and topics to help the community maintain healthy lifestyles and overall well-being.

This year’s themes include:

Community (Monday)

Lyme Disease and its Prevention (Tuesday)

Reproductive and Sexual Health (Wednesday)

Deployment Health (Thursday)

Food and Nutrition (Friday)

“These topics are chosen after years of data collection and how directly they impact our installation and local community,” said 1st Lt. Summerpreet Bali, 66 MDS Public Health Element chief.

While Hanscom’s Public Health team has been leading key community COVID care efforts over the last three years, John says they’re back into their routine of broad-spectrum education.

“The last several years have been so heavily focused on communicable diseases, but we’re reengaging our base population with an emphasis on overall wellbeing,” she said. 

For additional information, personnel can contact Hanscom Public Health at usaf.hanscom.66-abg.list.publichealth@mail.mil.