Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene

Emergency procedures are in place in multiple states due to Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene. >>Learn More

Defense Public Health Kicks Off National Public Health Week

Image of Defense Public Health Kicks Off National Public Health Week. The Department of Defense will join with other public health officials across the globe to celebrate National Public Health Week April 1–7. This year’s theme is “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.” Across the DHA public health experts are sharing best practices with DHA beneficiaries on how to promote a healthy lifestyle. (Defense Health Agency Public Health graphic illustration by Jason Embrey)

Public health officials from across DHA Public Health will host several activities this week in observance of National Public Health Week, April 1–7.

Celebrated annually by the American Public Health Association, NPHW is an opportunity to honor the contributions of public health officials across the world, and to educate society on how to build and sustain their own good health.

This year’s theme for NPHW is “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.” Across DHA Public Health, experts are sharing best practices with DHA beneficiaries on how to promote a healthy lifestyle.

“Prevention is the best way to health,” said U.S. Public Health Service Rear Adm. Brandon Taylor, DHA public health director. “Rather than treating individuals when they are ill, public health aims to prevent our DOD community from getting sick in the first place.”

In addition to the overall theme for NPHW, there is a dedicated daily theme to one area of Public Health reflecting the NPHW theme.

These daily themes are:

  • Monday, April 1; Civic Engagement.
  • Tuesday, April 2: Healthy Neighborhoods.
  • Wednesday, April 3: Climate Change.
  • Thursday, April 4: Reproductive and Sexual Health.
  • Friday, April 5: New Tools and Innovations.
  • Saturday, April 6: Emergency Preparedness.
  • Sunday, April 7: Future of Public Health.

Across DHA, multiple events are underway to commemorate NPHW.

Public health activities include several online lunch seminars to discuss the various public health topics and a blood drive at the Defense Health Headquarters. There are also public health walks scheduled at the various Defense Centers for Public Health. DHA employees can expect to see messaging from DHA PH leadership, NPHW commemorative banner stands in DHA buildings, and social media posts on the contributions of public health professionals.

Public health leaders emphasize that although NPHW ends April 7, the good work of public health continues year-round.

“Since the first inoculations were developed, public health has been integral to DOD forces,” said Sean Friendly, deputy director of DHA Public Health. “We want to ensure our force remains fit and ready for the future.”

You also may be interested in...

Report
Jan 1, 2021

MSMR Vol. 28 No. 01 - January 2021

.PDF | 1.06 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Attrition rates and incidence of mental health disorders in an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cohort, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2014–2018; The prevalence of attention-deficit ...

Report
Dec 1, 2020

MSMR Vol. 27 No. 12 - December 2020

.PDF | 1.91 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 and comorbidities among Military Health System beneficiaries, 1 January 2020 through 30 September 2020; Characteristics of U.S. Army beneficiary cases of COVID-19 in Europe, ...

Report
Nov 1, 2020

MSMR Vol. 27 No. 11 - November 2020

.PDF | 3.50 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Acute respiratory infections among active component service members who use combustible tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes/vaping products, U.S. Armed Forces, 2018–2019; Fibromyalgia: Prevalence and burden of ...

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search
Last Updated: April 03, 2024
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery