Press Releases
Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Focuses on Climate Change and Potential Community Health Risks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2007
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Focuses on Climate Change and Potential Community Health Risks
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Celebrates National Public Health Week, “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance” April 7 – 13.
Champaign, IL – April 7-13 is National Public Health Week. This year’s theme is “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance”. Climate change may cause extreme weather events and changes in rainfall that increase the risk of death and disease. An increase in regional temperatures may also increase the spread of infectious disease through mosquito and tick-borne illnesses. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is urging citizens to take this week to not only develop an emergency preparedness plan, but to also to commit to some simple changes to make themselves and the climate healthier.
Suggested changes include:
- Be Prepared. Develop a basic emergency preparedness plan for your family.
- Travel Differently. When possible, leave your car at home and take public transportation, carpool, ride a bike or even walk.
- Eat Differently. Buy local products, especially those offered at farmer’s markets. Eat more fruit and vegetables, and less meat.
- Green Your Work & Home. Purchase recycled products, and make sure to recycle and reuse where possible. Conserve water and energy by turning off lights in unused rooms, and taking shorter showers.
“Climate change presents serious public health threats,” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator for CUPHD. “Extreme weather, such as tornadoes, heat waves, ice and snow storms, as well as the resurgence of various infectious diseases can all be attributed to climatic changes.”
National Public Health Week is an annual observance meant to draw attention to the often invisible public health programs and practitioners providing care and services on the national, state and local levels. Public Health works behind the scenes to prevent epidemics and the spread of disease; protect against environmental hazards; prevent injuries; promote healthy behaviors; respond to disasters and community recovery efforts; and ensure the quality and accessibility of health services.
Since the inception of National Public Health Week in 1995, the public health community has taken this opportunity to focus on key issues important to improving the public’s health. The staggering documented losses of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina aptly illustrate the tremendous need for each community and individual to have an effective emergency preparedness plan. The aggressive expansion of mosquito and tick-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, Erlichiosis, Lyme Disease, and St. Louis encephalitis provide an pertinent picture of the results of global warming and climate change.
Although CUPHD and the surrounding public agencies prepare for a public health disaster, there are many steps that individuals must take to protect their families in the event of social disruption, like that which could be caused by an extreme weather event or outbreak of an infectious disease. CUPHD is asking local families to Stock 2 for Flu, by purchasing two non-perishable food items each and every time they visit a store, and continuing to do so until they have a two-week supply of food and water. Families can also prepare by creating a disaster readiness kit consisting of:
- Portable, battery-powered or crank radio and/or television with extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual
- Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
- Matches and waterproof container
- Whistle
- Extra clothing and blankets
- Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener
- Photocopies of credit and identification cards
- Cash and coins
- Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions and hearing aid batteries
- Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has served the Champaign-Urbana community for over 70 years. Please join us in celebrating National Public Health Week 2008 by creating a family disaster plan and Stocking 2 for Flu.
For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, call 352-7961 or visit us on the web at www.cuphd.org. For more information on preparing for a disaster, go to www.Stock2forFlu.com.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Asks for Your Help During National Public Health Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2007
Contact
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Asks for Your Help During National Public Health Week
Champaign, IL – April 2-8 is National Public Health Week. This year’s theme is “Preparedness and Public Health Threats: Addressing the Unique Needs of the Nation’s Vulnerable Populations.” CUPHD asks citizens of Champaign and Urbana to help our community prepare by "Stocking 2 for Flu" and developing family emergency plans.
National Public Health Week is an annual observance meant to draw attention to the often invisible public health programs and practitioners providing care and services on the national, state and local levels. Public Health works behind the scenes to prevent epidemics and the spread of disease; protect against environmental hazards; prevent injuries; promote healthy behaviors; respond to disasters and community recovery efforts; and ensure the quality and accessibility of health services.
Since the inception of National Public Health Week in 1995, the public health community has taken this opportunity to focus on key issues important to improving the public’s health. The staggering documented losses of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina aptly illustrate the tremendous need for each community and individual to have an effective emergency preparedness plan.
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has filled a vital role in the Champaign-Urbana Emergency Preparedness Plan for over 15 years. “CUPHD’s greatest strength is our ability to reach out into the neighborhoods and communities we serve. Our mobile and outreach programs have made our services incredibly responsive", said Vito Palazzolo, CUPHD Administrator. Garry Bird, Director of Environmental Health also points to CUPHD's "incredible working relationships with the groups in our community, such as the police, fire and hospitals, that respond to public emergencies.” “Together, we have practiced for a variety of emergencies. These practice sessions afford us the opportunity to measure our responses and make adjustments, if necessary, to provide more effective service to the community in the event of an actual public threat". said Bird. Recent emergency preparedness practice events have included mass, drive-thru, flu shot clinics; dispensing medications from the Strategic National Stockpile and a mass transit bomb threat response.
Although CUPHD and the surrounding public agencies prepare for a public health disaster, there are many steps that individuals must take to protect their families in the event of social disruption, like that which could be caused by an outbreak of pandemic flu or another infectious disease. CUPHD is asking families to Stock 2 for Flu, by purchasing two non-perishable food items each and every time they visit a store, and continuing to do so until they have a two-week supply of food and water. Families can also prepare by creating a disaster readiness kit consisting of:
- Portable, battery-powered or crank radio and/or television with extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual
- Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
- Matches and waterproof container
- Whistle
- Extra clothing and blankets
- Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener
- Photocopies of credit and identification cards
- Cash and coins
- Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions and hearing aid batteries
- Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has served the Champaign-Urbana community for the past 70 years. Please join us in celebrating National Public Health Week 2007 by creating a family disaster plan and Stocking 2 for Flu.
For more information about CUPHD's programs and services, visit us on the web at www.cuphd.org. For more information on preparing for a disaster, go to www.Stock2forFlu.com.
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April is National STD Awareness Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2007
Contact
Sonya Kuykendall, RN, BSN, PHN – STD Nurse
(217) 531-5359
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
April is National STD Awareness Month
April is National STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages all Illinois healthcare providers to alert clients to the increasing presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) as they are one of the state’s most persistent (yet preventable) health problems. Public awareness and knowledge remain critically low around the U.S., and STD’s are occurring at epidemic levels, particularly in 15-29 year-olds. Education and testing are crucial, as many STD’s may show few, if any, outward symptoms.
- Preliminary data from 2006 indicates that over 53,000 cases of Chlamydia and over 20,000 cases of Gonorrhea were reported to Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Approximately 90% of all Chlamydia cases and 79% of all Gonorrhea case in Illinois were from the 15-29 age range.
- In 2006, Champaign County had 1,071 Chlamydia cases and 380 Gonorrhea cases.
- In 2006, Champaign County experienced an outbreak of early Syphilis cases, a 400% increase from 2005. Total number of Syphilis cases was 24.
In observance of this month, CUPHD would like to offer Champaign County citizens and health care providers resources to assist in STD education, screening, diagnosis, and treatment issues. CUPHD also offers three weekly walk-in STD clinics for Champaign County residents:
Mondays: Champaign clinic (710 N. Neil -352-7961) 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Men’s Clinic)
Tuesdays: Champaign clinic (710 N. Neil - 352-7961) 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Thursdays: Champaign clinic (710 N. Neil - 352-7961) 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Public Health Department are part of a national effort to reduce STD incidence and prevalence. Nurses in our Infectious Diseases division perform outreach and testing at local jails, juvenile detention centers, schools, and homeless shelters. Furthermore, urine testing for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia is available on our mobile vans – “Wellness on Wheels (WOW)” (alternating Fridays at local homeless shelters) and “Teen Wellness on Wheels (Teen WOW)” (alternating between Central and Centennial High Schools every Wednesday from 2:00 – 4:00p.m). Also, educational presentations about STD’s are performed monthly in a variety of outreach settings.
For more information, please contact Sonya Kuykendall, RN, BSN, PHN in the Division of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at (217) 531-5359.
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