TOPEKA – Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly proclaimed April 1 -7, as National Public Health Week in Kansas yesterday to recognize public health workers and the work they do keeping our state safe and secure.

“It is exciting to see how the evolution of the  important work of public health professionals over the past several years continues to shape the overall health of our state and nation.” KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said. “National Public Health Week is a great event that reinforces the importance of our partnerships with health, environmental and other professionals as we look to highlight not only what is  being done today, but towards future initiatives that will continue to improve  public health in Kansas.”

Public health professionals are instrumental in helping communities prevent, prepare for, mitigate, and recover from not only health threats like communicable diseases, but also natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, and severe storms, as well as disasters caused by human activity and public health emergencies.

KDHE hopes to use National Public Health Week to educate public policymakers and public health professionals on issues that are important to improving the health of all Kansans. This goes hand in hand with this year’s theme, “Protecting, Connecting and Thriving: We Are All Public Health.” Through daily engagement, the national event recognizes that public health is more than just health care and encourages us all to come together to achieve the goals of public health.

This year’s daily themes include:

• Monday – Civic Engagement

• Tuesday – Health Neighborhoods

• Wednesday – Climate Change

• Thursday – New Tools and Innovations

• Friday – Reproductive and Sexual Health

• Saturday – Emergency Preparedness

• Sunday – Future of Public Health

For more than 25 years, the American Public Health Association has served as the organizer of National Public Health Week. For more information about National Public Health Week 2024, visit NPHW.org.