Press Releases
Year
Health Departments Kick Off Rethink Your Drink 2014 by Reminding Illinoisans to Limit Sugary Beverages
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2014
Contact
Elissa Bassler, Illinois Public Health Institute
(312) 850-4744
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Health Departments Kick Off Rethink Your Drink 2014 by Reminding Illinoisans to Limit Sugary Beverages
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Lead by Example
Champaign, IL – As part of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity’s (IAPO) month-long Rethink Your Drink campaign, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be sharing, posting and tweeting helpful information about rethinking beverage choices. CUPHD will also be active participants by challenging staff to consume only milk and water for one day.
“I’m a little worried about my morning coffee but it’s just one day so I’m ready to give it a try,” said Tara McCauley, CUPHD employee.
“We see staff walk around with Polar Pops all day. Even if they have water in those cups, what message are we sending clients,” said Dr. Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator at CUPHD. “The students at Unity West led an event like this last month. If the students can do it, we can do it.”
Health departments across the state are holding educational events to help Illinoisans make healthy beverage choices. “As providers of a diverse array of essential services for residents, health departments are uniquely positioned to lead in educating Illinoisans on one of the easiest changes a person can make to move toward improved health,” says Beth Fiorini, President-Elect of the Illinois Association for Public Health Administrators and Whiteside County Public Health Administrator.
CUPHD is encouraging people to choose Go beverages such as low-fat milk and water and saving Whoa drinks that are high in sugar or calories for special occasions and celebrations. Just one sugar sweetened beverage per day increases an adult’s risk of becoming overweight by 27 percent. Drinking one to two sugary drinks per day increases your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by 26 percent. Health Departments around Illinois are doing what they can to get this information out and encourage the community to rethink drink choices.
“Not only are these entities an important point of contact for a diverse array of Illinoisans, but they have been the front line in creating food and beverage environments that ensure that healthy food and beverage options are the routine, easy choice,” said Elissa Bassler, CEO of the Illinois Public Health Institute, the administrative agency for IAPO.
Other health departments participating in Rethink Your Drink month include Kane County Health Department, DuPage County Health Department, Jackson County Health Department and Whiteside Health Department.
The Rethink Your Drink campaign is an initiative of IAPO, a diverse coalition made up of more than 140 organizations across the state, which has focused on raising awareness of the health harms of sugary beverages since 2010.
Rethink Your Drink events will continue in key sectors throughout the month, with subsequent weeks highlighting activities in hospitals and healthcare institutions, schools/universities and daycare centers:
Health Departments/Local Government Education Week:
Monday, 1/20-Friday, 1/24
After-School Programs/Non-Profits Education Week:
Monday, 1/27-Friday, 1/31
School/ University Education Week:
Monday, 2/3-Friday, 2/7
Worksite/ Hospital/ Healthcare Education Week:
Monday, 2/10-Friday, 2/14
To learn more about the Rethink Your Drink campaign, visit IAPO’s website at www.preventobesityil.org and ‘Like’ IAPO’s Facebook Page for event updates. To learn more facts about sugary drinks, visit http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/sugary-drinks-fact-sheet/.
Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity: www.preventobesityil.org
The primary goal of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity is to ensure that trends in obesity in Illinois are stable by 2015 and moving downward by 2018.The statewide coalition of over 140 organizations works to implement solutions to the obesity epidemic through coordinated and comprehensive policy, systems, and environmental changes.
*This message was funded in part by a grant from Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Heart Association
For additional information, contact Nikki Hillier at (217) 531-2914.
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Women Out Walking Mini-Grant Awarded to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2014
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-2914
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Women Out Walking Mini-Grant Awarded to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
New Community Walking Program to Promote Women’s Health
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is set to kickoff a new community walking program aimed at women. The Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women’s Health, is awarding CUPHD $4,500 for the nine- month program that focuses on improving women’s health through physical activity.
Women Out Walking is a 12-week walking challenge for women in which participants use a step counter to track their daily steps. At the end of the week they will report their weekly step total to their team captain. The team structure is an important component of the program because it encourages participants to provide positive reinforcement to the other members of their team. The commitment to report step totals each week also will help keep participants involved in the program. There will be weekly challenges and prizes given to participants throughout the program. At the conclusion of the 12 weeks, recognition will be given to the winning team(s).
Registration to participate in the Women Out Walking program will be on the CUPHD website in February. CUPHD plans to host a Women Out Walking kick-off event to start the program on March 28, 2014. More details to follow.
For additional information, contact Nikki Hillier at 217-531-2914.
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H1N1 Flu Activity is on the Rise in the Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2014
Contact
Julie Pryde, Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
H1N1 Flu Activity is on the Rise in the Community
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Flu Vaccination for Everyone Six Months and Older
Champaign, IL – Influenza activity is on the rise in this community. The ChampaignUrbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is encouraging everyone to protect themselves and their families by getting a flu shot now. “H1N1 has been reported in Champaign County,” said Julie A. Pryde, Administrator of Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.
“There have been H1N1-flu hospitalizations as well.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting widespread influenza activity in Illinois with 122 flu-related intensive care unit hospitalizations and six flu-related intensive care unit deaths. IDPH expects to see an increase in the number of hospitalizations and deaths.
So far this season, 2009 H1N1 viruses have been most common. The 2009 H1N1 viruses have circulated as a seasonal flu virus worldwide since it emerged in 2009, causing a pandemic. During the pandemic, younger adults and children, particularly people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women, were harder hit by H1N1 compared with adults aged 65 and older. If the H1N1 virus continues to circulate widely, illness may disproportionately affect young and middle-aged adults this season.
“The single best way to prevent flu is to get a flu vaccination every year,” said Pryde. “The good news is this year’s flu shot includes protection against H1N1. If you have already had your flu shot this season, great! If you have not had one this year, get it now. It can take up to two weeks to get full immunity from the flu shot.”
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is still providing flu vaccinations on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday between 8:30 – 11:30 AM and 1:00 – 4:30 PM.
CUPHD accepts private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Visa, Master Card, cash and personal check. Anyone wishing to pay cash, the cost will be $35.00. The Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program is also available for children who qualify. Flu shots are also available at local pharmacies.
Additional influenza planning resources and information are available at www.cuphd.org. For updates on H1N1, infectious disease and local emergency response, “Like” Champaign County Prepares on Facebook.
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