National Public Health Week 2020

This year we celebrate the 25th National Public Health Week. This week (April 6th-12th), we celebrate the power of prevention, advocate for healthy and fair policies, share strategies for successful partnerships, and champion the role of a strong public health system.

The theme of this year’s National Public Health Week is “looking back, moving forward” and focuses strongly on the COVID19 pandemic. Each day, we’re celebrate a different public health theme:

Monday: Mental Health
Tuesday: Maternal and Child Health
Wednesday: Violence Prevention
Thursday: Environmental Health
Friday: Education
Saturday: Healthy Housing
Sunday: Economics

GET INVOLVED

    1. NPHW Forum: Monday, April 6, 1-3 p.m. ET join APHA and public health leaders from across the country in this conversation about public health’s strides in the last 25 years, the challenges of eliminating health disparities and the imperative to create a more just world. The National Public Health Week Forum is the national kickoff for NPHW. Recording available here.
    2. BUSPH MCHiA: Tuesday, April 7 5 p.m ET Maternal and Child Health in Action at BU SPH is hosting a COVID19 and Maternal and Child Health virtual discussion. Join via Zoom (ID: 425 879 623)
    3. NPHW Twitter Chat: Wednesday, April 8 at 2 p.m. ET APHA is hosting its tenth annual National Public Health Week Twitter Chat. We’ll chat about all things public health, celebrate everything public health has accomplished and talk about where the movement is going. Make sure you follow @NPHW on Twitter and use #NPHWchat. Please share this link, and make sure your Twitter account has RSVP’ed as well: https://www.twtvite.com/yleqzpyth
    4. NPHW Student Day: Thursday, April 9th. Students are truly the backbone of NPHW. That’s why each year we designate one day of the week as Student Day! This year, Student Day will be held on Thursday, April 9. Because COVID-19 is keeping us all off campus right now, there are lots of ways to stay engaged online. NPHW Student Day – How to Get Hired After Graduation REGISTER HERE: https://ampublichealth.wufoo.com/forms/z1k5urpl1icagu0/

 

“MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

For science.
The United States has the highest national spending on health care yet ranks low among its peers for maternal and infant mortality, two indicators of the health of a country. Thirty-one percent of women who will become pregnant and give birth in the U.S. will face pregnancy complications.[1] Black mothers are up to six times more likely to die due to pregnancy complications than white mothers nationwide.[2] Approximately 25% of women in the U.S. do not receive the appropriate number of prenatal appointments with a health provider, but the percentage is even higher among black women (32%) and American Indian/Alaska Native women (41%).[3]

For action.
Advocate for bias training in medical school education. Encourage policymakers to pass laws that create a more equitable and just society. Address access to prenatal and perinatal care for mothers and babies in communities with limited maternal health care. Expand access to WIC and SNAP. Eliminate the work and income requirements that are barriers to prenatal care and improved nutrition. Expand Medicaid for pregnant women and children. Advocate for programs that support breastfeeding. Work to make doula services available for all pregnancies and births.

For health.
In order to address and fight maternal mortality, we need to address income inequity and racism. Advocate for policies that address maternal health gaps and create programs and funding sources to address gaps in care, education, access and resources. Provide technical assistance and funding for states to allow them to create their own review boards for mortality related to pregnancy.[4]

For justice.
Acknowledge the history of harm that has been perpetuated on women of color.[5] Explore racism as a cause for persisting inequities, and work toward addressing implicit bias in maternal care.[6] Advocate for more equitable access to education, health care and economic mobility for communities of color.”