For the eleventh consecutive year, the City of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services (DPHCS), along with its many community partners, are excited to celebrate National Public Health Week (NPHW) from April 4 to April 10.
Public health is involved in all aspects of our lives. It is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention. This year's theme, “Public Health is Where You Are”, celebrates what we know is true: The places where we are, physically, mentally and societally, affect our health and our lives. And as we move back toward gathering in person, we’re focusing not just on what we can do as individuals, but what we can do as communities to protect and prioritize public health.
The mission of the Nashua DPHCS is to promote, protect, and preserve the health and wellbeing of the Greater Nashua Region through leadership and community collaboration. In 2021, the Nashua DPHCS renovated its building on 18 Mulberry Street to enhance client access and improve service delivery by becoming more energy efficient and ADA compliant. These renovations included the addition of an elevator, a new roof, a new HVAC system, new windows, and new restrooms, as well as a complete interior makeover.
This past year, the Nashua DPHCS continued its efforts in the forefront of the City of Nashua and Greater Nashua Region’s COVID-19 response using an equity lens to engage in efforts that prevent disease, mitigate adverse health outcomes, and protect the health and safety of our community. Amongst hosting testing and vaccine clinics and providing guidance and education to the community, the Nashua DPHCS continued to provide a range of direct services and engage partners on strategic initiatives to ensure the overall health and well-being of every member of our community.
Concurrent with the pandemic, the Nashua DPHCS: increased access to services through the re-opening of the Community Health Clinic offering weekly immunizations, STD services, and child lead testing; continued offering mobile outreach services; facilitated a virtual Mayor’s Opioid Task Force Legislative Breakfast; facilitated a virtual Greater Nashua Public Health Annual Meeting; and identified goals, objectives, and strategies for priority health issues through the launch of the 2022 Community Health Improvement Plan to support efforts that promote equity and improve the economic, physical, and social environments that affect health.
During National Public Health Week, the Nashua DPHCS and collaborating partners will raise awareness of public health, promote healthy behaviors, and, of course, have fun! We will 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 Nashua DPHCS will commence Public Health Week with a kickoff event at 12 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at the Nashua City Hall Steps. The event will include a proclamation reading by the City of Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess followed by a walk on Main Street with Mayor Donchess and a Community Resource Fair. We encourage our community to join us at the event or attend virtually via Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/NashuaDPHCS.
Throughout the rest of the week, we will be featuring diverse training and educational opportunities in Greater Nashua on our website. All featured activities are free to the public, celebrate local public health efforts, and follow public health safety guidelines. Some of the activities include:
· United Way Fresh Food Pop-Up Pantry from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at the Arlington Street Community Center. The United Way's Winter Fresh Food Pantry will be distributing fresh food. All are welcome!
· Virtual Listening Session on Climate Change and Health in New Hampshire from 5 - 6:15 p.m. Join to work with colleagues in the public health field for a collaborative discussion of how climate change is affecting public health in NH! Your input and observations will help guide our work moving forward! Register here: https://nhpha.memberclicks.net/listening-session-on-climate-change-and-health-in-new-hampshire
· Our Story NH from 4 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at the Nashua Public Library (Medium Meeting Room). Our Story NH seeks to create and share stories from across the state of our experiences and feelings about life before, during, and after the pandemic. Sign up for a 20-minute appointment. You will be interviewed then can either write or tell your story and have it recorded. Sign up at https://nashuanh.gov/1132/Public-Health-Week.
· Simplifying Medicare (Virtual Event hosted by the Merrimack Public Library) from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7. Turning 65 or retiring in 6 months to a year? Get educated on transitioning into Medicare, navigating through all the Medicare information, and understanding Medicare basic Parts A, B, C, and D. Learn more: https://www.merrimacklibrary.org/events/2022/01/24/simplifying-medicare.
For more details and a full listing of Public Health Week activities in Greater Nashua, please visit https://nashuanh.gov/1132/Public-Health-Week. Connect with us on Facebook (NashuaDPHCS), Twitter (@NashuaPHealth), and Instagram (@nashuadphcs) to engage in conversation. If you have any questions, contact Nicole Chute, Health Promotion and Communication Specialist at the Nashua DPHCS, at chuten@nashuanh.gov or 603-589-4508. For more information about National Public Health Week and how other communities are celebrating across the nation, visit www.NPHW.org.
