By Marian Dickson
Director of donor engagement
Center for Disease Control
and Prevention Foundation
This week, April 7-13, marks the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week – a time to recognize the collective efforts that keep our communities healthy and safe.
At its core, public health is about ensuring everyone has access to the resources, knowledge and support they need to live healthier and more vibrant lives. Whether it’s preventing disease or promoting wellness, the CDC Foundation advances this mission by working in close partnership with the public health system – including local health departments and the CDC – to protect our nation’s health and safety.
Public health matters. The initiatives of the CDC and local health departments play a crucial role in shaping the places we live: from ensuring clean water and safe food to addressing substance use and preventing overdoses. These efforts stop diseases before they start, lowering healthcare costs and enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities alike.
Today, however, reductions in funding and staffing due to a changing federal funding landscape are leaving health departments and communities at risk to growing health threats ranging from H5N1 (a strain of the flu) and measles to tuberculosis, drug overdoses, cancer and more.
You can join the
public health movement.
Health starts with awareness, action and access. By working together – whether through education, preventive care or community support—we can create a healthier future for everyone. Join us in our commitment to put health first, because when we invest in public health, we invest in a better world. It starts both locally and nationally. It starts now. Because together our impact is greater.
To see how you can support the CDC Foundation, go to our website: cdcfoundation.org.
“I am thankful for a week to celebrate our public health workforce that is committed to improving and protecting our community,” Cassie Prather, Woodford County public health director, told the Sun. “Public health impacts everyone who lives, works and plays in Woodford County. From the vaccines we administer to the restaurants we inspect, we are focused on making our community the best it can be.”
Prather also invites folks to visit woodfordcountyhealth.com to learn more about the services the health department offers here.