'Public Health: Start Here' theme in McHenry County for national awareness week

McHenry County Department of Health will join communities around the country in celebrating April 7-13 as National Public Health Week to draw attention to the need to help protect and improve the nation's health. Since 1995, communities from across the country have celebrated NPHW each April to draw attention to the need to help protect and improve the nation's health.

This year's theme is "Public Health: Start Here." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states seven in 10 deaths in the U.S. are related to preventable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Only three percent of health care dollars go toward prevention while 75 percent of health care dollars are spent on treating such diseases.

"We need to recognize that improving our nation's health can be done with small changes to our daily routine," said Patrick J. McNulty, MCDH's Public Health Administrator. "We can all make a difference in helping people live healthier and longer lives." NPHW messages will be focused on -

Monday, April 7 - Be Healthy from the Start: From maternal health and school nutrition to emergency preparedness, public health starts at home.

Tuesday, April 8 - Don't Panic: Disaster preparedness starts with communitywide commitment and action.

Wednesday, April - Get Out Ahead: Prevention is now a nationwide priority.

Thursday, April 10 - Eat Well: The system that keeps our nation's food safe and healthy is complex.

Friday April 11th - Be the Healthiest Nation in One Generation: Best practices for community health come from around the globe.

For more information about National Public Health Week, visit nphw.org.