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Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. has proclaimed the week of April 4-10, 2011 as “Public Health Week” in the Virgin Islands to focus attention on ensuring healthy living and working environments in the territory.
Since the turn of the 21st century, the life expectancy of U.S. citizens has increased by 30 years mostly due to public health policies; the rate of injuries, disabilities, and disease has been greatly reduced.
Public health policies succeed by identifying and addressing patterns of disease, illness and injury in populations and employing strategies for prevention. Public health initiatives have contributed to great declines in illness and injury, including heart disease and stroke, tobacco-related diseases, infectious disease, motor vehicle and workplace injuries.
Public Health Week provides an opportunity to highlight and commend the efforts of our territory's public health professionals in protecting, promoting and enhancing the health of all Virgin Islanders and their communities.
The week is also intended to educate Americans about health risks associated with being overweight or obese, and to provide Americans with viable recommendations on healthy eating and active living.
This year, the focus of Public Health Week is on encouraging healthy lifestyles and ensuring that everyone has access to health services. The following events will be held in the territory to achieve that goal:
On St. Croix, an Open House/Health Fair Display will be held from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on April 4-7 in the lobby of the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital. Staff will share educational pamphlets and souvenirs with the public. There will be a presentation on food safety to coincide with the theme: “Safety is No Accident.”
Complimenting the open house, on Tuesday, Department of Health Environmental Health Staff will make a presentation on the importance of food safety, and on Thursday, Fire Services officials will discuss Fire Safety. The presentations will be held in room 1016 on the first floor of the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital.
In addition, an Open House/Health Fair Display will be held on St. John from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM on April 6 at the Ubaldina Simmons Post Office, Cruz Bay, St. John. Morris F. De Castro Clinic staff will be on hand to talk with residents about various health issues and will distribute educational materials on chronic disease such as diabetes and the various programs that the clinic offers.
And on St. Thomas, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on April 7, a mini-health fair will be held at Emancipation Garden where educational materials and souvenirs will be available to the public, as well as health screenings for HIV, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol.
Governor de Jongh urges all Virgin Islanders and community organizations to join him in observing Public Health Week and participating in activities planned throughout the week.
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