FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

CUPHD Polls Focus Group of Champaign County Residents About Smoke-free Illinois

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and partners focus  on the successes of Smoke-free Illinois in celebration  of World No Tobacco Day 2008

Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has partnered with the American Cancer Society, C-U Smoke-free Alliance, Champaign County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Parkland College, and the Prairie Center Health Systems to promote World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2008.  The campaign, which focuses on the question “Why do you like Smoke-free Illinois?,” will be featured on MTD buses and movie screens at Savoy 16 starting May 30, 2008.

The quotes and photos feature six different Champaign County residents including:

• “Papa” George – Champaign Restaurant Owner: “A smoke-free Illinois is a healthier, tastier reality!”
• Anne Robin – University of Illinois Physician: “I like Smoke-free Illinois because my patients and I can all breathe better!”
• Ed – Local Champaign Musician: “I think this is the best thing to happen for musicians in this community in a long time!”
• Mabinty – Parkland College Student: “I love it! I think it is a great step towards helping people stop smoking, promote better health and even save money.”
• Abbey – Mahomet Student: “Smoke-free Illinois helps me stay smokefree!”
• Pam – Dental Clinic Administrative Assistant: “It motivated me to quit smoking for me and my family and helped us start a better lifestyle!”

“The response from the project poll was overwhelmingly positive,” said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator for CUPHD, “It was difficult to choose only six quotes for the WNTD 2008 campaign.  Although Smoke-free Illinois has only been in effect for a short time, about six months, it has truly changed people’s lives.”

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world.  The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes about 5 million deaths a year to tobacco use, a figure expected to rise to about 10 million deaths a year by 2020, with 7 million of these deaths occurring in developing countries.  

Tobacco is the only legal consumer product that kills one third to one half of those who use it as intended by its manufacturers, with its victims dying on average 15 years prematurely.

For more information about the World No Tobacco Day 2008, smoking cessation programs at CUPHD, or any other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-3527961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2008

Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2916

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

Local Grade School Children Take a Stand Against Tobacco Use and Win Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District REALITY Illinois Program to Present Prizes to Local Grade School Children at Special School Assemblies

Champaign, IL – Local grade school children will receive prizes for the winning entries in the 2008 REALITY Illinois poster contest at special school assemblies.  Awards for students grades Kindergarten – Second will take place on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at Unity West at 8:30am.  Awards for students grades Third – Fifth will take place on Friday May 30, 2008 at Gifford Grade School at 8:30am.

Champaign-Urbana grade school children recently participated in an annual anti-tobacco workshop provided by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD).  Sponsored by Reality Illinois, this workshop is designed to educate children on the dangers of tobacco use, and provide them with the tools necessary to make the best possible decisions in the future regarding tobacco use. At the end of the workshop, participants were encouraged to create posters that best represented their thoughts on tobacco use, and the messages that they would like their peers to know when considering the use of tobacco products.

“Over 60,000 children in Illinois under the age of 18 become new daily tobacco users each year,” said Jennifer Jackson, Health Educator for CUPHD, “It is estimated that one third of those will become regular tobacco users as adults, and suffer health problems related to tobacco use in the future.  It is imperative that young children are presented with tobacco information before they are tempted to try a tobacco product.”

Winners of the REALITY Illinois 2008 Poster Contest are:

KINDERGARTEN – SECOND GRADE -

• 1st Place: Kiley, 1^st Grade, Unity West, $100 worth of gift cards & their poster on a t-shirt for their entire class.
• 2nd Place: Nathan, 1^st Grade, Unity West, $50 worth of gift cards
• 3^rd Place: Haley, 1^st Grade, Ludlow Grade School, $25 in gift cards
• Honorable Mention: Jacob, 1^st grade, Ludlow Grade School, $10 in gift cards
• Honorable Mention: Brenden, 1^st grade, Ludlow Grade School, $10 in gift cards
• Honorable Mention: Sandy, 1^st grade, Ludlow Grade School, $10 in gift cards

THIRD GRADE – FIFTH GRADE -

• 1st Place: Heidi, 5th Grade, Gifford Grade School, $100 worth of gift cards & their poster on a t-shirt for their entire class.
• 2nd Place: Brendan, 5th Grade, Lincoln Trail Elementary School in Mahomet, $50 worth of gift cards
• 3^rd Place: Brandon, 5th Grade, Unity West, $25 in gift cards
• Honorable Mention: Mia, 5th grade, Dr. Howard in Champaign, $10 in gift cards
• Honorable Mention: Elif, 4th grade, King Elementary School in Urbana, $10 in gift cards
• Honorable Mention: Mariah, 5th grade, Ludlow, $10 in gift cards

REALITY Illinois is an anti-tobacco movement created by and for Illinois teens.  With help from the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments, REALITY Illinois encourages teens to take a stand against tobacco by educating their peers and communities about the adverse health effects and deceptive marketing practices of tobacco companies.  The teens also work to make their communities tobacco-free and communicate with decision makers on issues related to tobacco prevention and control.

The REALITY Illinois program was launched in the summer of 2002.  Local chapters form a teen advisory panel to plan activities and events that range from conducting peerto-peer tobacco prevention education to membership recruitment and advocacy projects.

For more information about the REALITY Illinois program at CUPHD or other CUPHD programs and services, please call 217-352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2008

Contact
Penny Shonkwiler, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-5371

Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927

May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages the Public to Review Immunization Records and Learn About Risk Factors for Hepatitis

Champaign, IL – May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month.  The 2008 World Hepatitis Day (May 19, 2008) campaign theme is “Am I Number 12,” a concept designed to communicate the shocking statistic that one in 12 people worldwide are living with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C.  While this is far higher than the prevalence of HIV or any cancer, awareness is inexplicably low and the majority of those infected are unaware. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) encourages everyone to review their immunization records, and learn more about the risk factors, treatment and prevention of viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver.  The most common forms of viral hepatitis include hepatitis A, B and C.  Hepatitis A is most often transmitted by ingesting food or water that has been contaminated with the feces of an infected person.  Those most at risk are children in communities with high levels of hepatitis A, travelers to high-risk geographic areas and men who have sex with men.  Preventing the transmission of hepatitis A is as simple as utilizing good hand washing techniques with soap and warm water, especially after using the restroom.

Hepatitis B and C are more serious.  Hepatitis B and C are blood borne diseases transmitted when blood or body fluids from an infected person enter the body of a susceptible person.  Hepatitis C is most-frequently transmitted through injection drug use with a shared needle whereas Hepatitis B is most frequently spread through sexual activity.  

Both hepatitis B and C can cause chronic infection which may lead to the development of cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver cancer.  Some people infected with hepatitis C initially may not show any symptoms, and may not know that they have been infected.  People in the following risk groups are encouraged to get tested for exposure to hepatitis C:

• People ever notified of receiving blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C
• People who have ever injected illegal drugs or shared needles
• People who received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992
• People who received blood clotting products made before 1987
• People who have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
• People with evidence of liver disease (i.e. elevated liver enzymes)

It is possible to prevent hepatitis A and B by getting vaccinated.  There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.  Vaccinations are available from your local health care provider or at the 201 West Kenyon Road location of CUPHD.  Please call 217-352-7962 for an appointment. Awareness, counseling, testing and educational campaigns help prevent the further spread of this disease.

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District also sponsors a Hepatitis Support group to provide support and education to patients, and families of patients, with Hepatitis C or any other form of Hepatitis.  The Hepatitis Support group meets the second Wednesday of every month from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at The Forum at Carle, Fritz Room, 611 West Park Street, Urbana.  For more information on the Hepatitis Support Group, please contact Penny Shonkwiler at 217-239-7827.

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has served the Champaign-Urbana community for the past 70 years.  Please join us in celebrating National Hepatitis Awareness Month by reviewing your immunization records and learning about the risk factors of Hepatitis.

For more information about hepatitis and the many other CUPHD programs and services, visit us on the web at www.c-uphd.org or call 217-352-7962.

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