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By Haylie Robinson

It’s National Public Health Week. April 3rd through April 9th is a time to appreciate public health workers.

Public health departments promote and protect the health of citizens. The Bladen County Health Department states on its website, “While a doctor treats people who are sick, those of us working in public health try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place.” Consequently, public health workers are vital as community helpers and deserve appreciation.

*Vicky Graham is one of the Health Educators at the Bladen County Health Department. Graham states that this week is a time to celebrate our public health workers. Graham says the Bladen County Health Department has been celebrating their workers by supplying breakfast and lunch on certain days this week, playing games, and holding drawings to win prizes.

Graham states, “National Public Health Week started to appreciate our workers that work hard every day to help the public.”

Local healthcare workers did not want all the spotlight this week. Each day during this week, the health department covers different topics that can help with public health. These topics will be covered on Monday and will end on Thursday. Graham also stated that if anyone needs help with these issues, services are provided to help anyone struggling. With that, let’s get into the topics for this week.

• Monday: Suicide Awareness
• Tuesday: Substance Abuse
• Wednesday: Mental Health
• Thursday: Food & Nutrition

With this week being such an important week for Public Health Workers, we should all thank a health worker. Following are five ways to show appreciation for our local public health employees.

1. Send letters or cards with heartfelt thanks to the health department.

2. Spotlight healthcare workers with a social media appreciation post.

3. Offer to volunteer at a healthcare event.

4. Send flowers or balloons to the health department.

5. Give them a gift card to a coffee shop or local restaurant.

The Bladen County Health Department is at 300 Mercer Mill Road in Elizabethtown, North Carolina.

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