Carson City April 05, 2021
With the theme of “Building Bridges to Better Health,” National Public Health Week 2021 shines a light on public health and is an opportunity to acknowledge the work done by so many throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Annually, the first full week of April is recognized as National Public Health Week and though the 2021 theme the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services encourages Nevadans statewide to find common ground on the issues that have impacted us all as we respond to COVID-19 and work to protect the health of our communities.
Public health works to build bridges by uniting groups and individuals across the spectrum of health issues to reduce risks and improve the population’s overall health.
“As we embark on National Public Health Week in 2021, it is an unprecedented time in our history where our public health workforce has been pushed to the limits and in the face of the storm, have run directly into it,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “I am grateful to all those in our public health workforce who have continued to adapt and adjust to serve Nevadans in the last year.”
Public health has received more attention in 2020 and 2021 than ever before. Though COVID-19 has brought this profession to light, public health has been a foundational part of life that is often unseen. The 10 essential functions of public health are:
• Assess and monitor population health status, factors that influence health, and community needs and assets
• Investigate, diagnose, and address health problems and hazards affecting the population
• Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that influence it, and how to improve it
• Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health
• Create, champion, and implement policies, plans, and laws that impact health
• Utilize legal and regulatory actions designed to improve and protect the public’s health
• Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy
• Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce
• Improve and innovate public health functions through ongoing evaluation, research, and continuous quality improvement
• Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health
“Saying ‘thank you’ to our public health team throughout the state seems so inadequate as they have taken on the challenge of their lifetimes in facing COVID-19,” said Lisa Sherych, Administrator for the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. “I have seen this team get knocked down and get back up again each day to fight the fight. That said, they were fighting the fight well before COVID-19 and will continue to serve Nevadans in the future.”
For more information about National Public Health Week go to www.nphw.org and for more information on Division of Public and Behavioral Health programs visit dpbh.nv.gov