As Thanksgiving approaches, the Yuma County Public Health District joined Research America and leading U.S. public health organizations in asking Americans to give special thanks to their "public health heroes" who protect the nation’s health throughout the year. November 23 marks the nation’s fifth annual Public Health Thank You Day and the entire staff of the Yuma County Public Health District have been invited to an ice cream social in their honor, 12 – 1 p.m., Monday, in the Public Health District’s auditorium.
“The Public Health District staff work for this community year-round to prevent illness and promote good health,” explained Becky Brooks, Yuma County Public Health District director. “Each one of them unselfishly gives of themselves every day. The recent H1N1 flu issue is a perfect example of how these professionals step up to the plate time and time again. Monday’s event is just a small way of saying thank you to all of them.”
“During this time of H1N1 and seasonal flu, we couldn’t have a better reminder of why our public health professionals are so important to our day-to-day health and safety. Let’s take a moment during this busy time of year and thank our nation’s public health professionals who work to keep us safe from the flu and also from injury, chronic illness and bioterrorism” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research America. “Use this Monday before Thanksgiving as an opportunity to thank these everyday heroes.”
Joining Research America are the Yuma County Public Health District, the American Public Health Association, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Association of County & City Health Officials and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.
According to a new Research America poll, 72% of Americans say it is very important to include strategies to prevent disease and promote wellness in health reform. And 75% of Americans favor increasing federal funding for state and local health departments and hospitals nationwide.
“As Americans watch the global spread of infectious diseases like H1N1, we see the value of investment in public health infrastructure more than ever,” Woolley continued. “Federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health fund research that helps us live longer, healthier, more productive lives. That is why Congress and the public must continue to support their vital work.”
Anyone can find out more about what the Yuma County Public Health District does for our community by logging onto:
www.yumacountyaz.gov and follow the link under Departments & Services to “Health.”