Public Health Week

Since 1996, APHA has organized National Public Health Week and developed campaigns to educate the public, policy-makers and public health professionals about issues important to improving the public's health. The Oregon Public Health Division participates each year with various activities involving state and county government and community organizations.

Annual Public Health Week Observances

• 2009 - Building the Foundation for a Healthy America
• 2008 - Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance
• 2007 - Preparedness and Public Health Threats
• 2006 - Designing Healthy Communities: Raising Healthy Kids

What is Public Health?

"The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of a community, as by preventive medicine, health education, control of communicable diseases, application of sanitary measures, and monitoring of environmental hazards."

-- American Heritage Dictionary

Public health is what we, as a society, do collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.

-- The Institute of Medicine

What does Public Health do?

• A Day in Your Life with Public Health
• Ten Great Public Health Achievements
• Careers in public health
• Photographic exhibit from National Public Health Service

During the 20th century, the health and life expectancy of persons in the U.S. has lengthened by 30 years; 25 years of this gain is attributable to advances in public health.