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| March 12, 2012- In This Issue |
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Home
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Partner Up! for Public Health |
Health District Trained in SNS |
When to Buy Organic |
Beat Type 2 Diabetes |
Shoebox Party for Needy |
Promoting Fresh Food |
Get Your Plate in Shape |
PHBRIEFS |
PHRECIPE |
PHTRAINING |
PHEVENTS
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PHNEWS
 The
Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the
Partner Up! for Public Health campaign today
unveiled a new initiative recognizing Georgia
organizations and individuals who make important
contributions to the health of their communities.
The programs first three honorees are: the Good News
Clinics in Gainesville, former Savannah Mayor Otis
Johnson, and the Decatur Farm to School Initiative.
Named as the first "Partner Up! for Public
Health Heroes" for 2012, the three honorees were
selected for effectively addressing different
public health challenges in their communities.
The Heroes Program is being co-sponsored by DPH
and the Partner Up! for Public Health campaign,
which is funded by the Healthcare Georgia
Foundation and is aimed at building public
awareness of the challenges facing the state's
public health system.
DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., "The
energy and the effectiveness exhibited by these
first three Partner Up! for Public Health Heroes
is exciting and inspiring to those of us who
work in public health. The Department is
pleased to join the Partner Up! campaign in
recognizing these honorees and hope that their
efforts will inspire leaders in other
communities to follow their examples. Local
leadership and engagement is vital to
protecting, promoting and advancing public
health at a community level."
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CGMC Volunteer, Marilyn Halaska, trains this
group on dispensing medication.
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If there were an aerosolized anthrax attack and masses of
people required prophylactic medication, who would provide
it? If there were a smallpox outbreak and a vaccination
center had to open, who would open it?
For years, public health departments and health districts
have been planning for a worst case scenario requiring that
every resident receive medication in a 48 hour time period.
That medication would come from the Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention's (CDC) Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
Program. The SNS program guarantees that during a Public
Health event, stockpiled medication will arrive in a timely
manner to try to prevent as much illness as possible.
After the medication is delivered, what next? On February 21
and February 23, 2012, the North Central Health District (NCHD)
held trainings to answer that question. Approximately 210
people representing the 13 counties in the NCHD attended the
training to better understand the purpose and flow of a mass
dispensing site (also known as a Point of Dispensing or
POD). The trainings were held in actual sites that would be
used for mass dispensing in a real event.
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Report: When to Buy Organic
 It
is common knowledge that a healthy diet is one that
includes five to six servings of fruits and
vegetables a day, and many people are becoming more
aware of the health benefits of reaching these
numbers. Fruits and vegetables promote good health
by containing essential vitamins, minerals and fiber
that help protect people from chronic disease, but,
according to a report from the Environment Working
Group (EWG), a research and advocacy group, many
fruits and vegetables also contain pesticides.
EWG analyzed pesticide residue testing data from
the USDA and the FDA to come up with rankings
for popular fresh produce items. The
organization released a report in 2011 listing
the top contaminated fruits and vegetables. EWG
calls the top 12 contaminated fruits and
vegetables the "Dirty Dozen" and encourages
consumers to buy these items organic (vs.
conventionally grown) in order to avoid the
pesticides. Some items indicate whether the item
to which it refers is imported or grown in the
U.S. For example, imported grapes make the list
but domestically grown grapes do not. The fruits
and vegetables that make up the "Dirty Dozen"
are:
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How I'll Beat Type 2 Diabetes: A Story of Change
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Lawsey S. Thomas Sr., MSHRM, Deputy
Director of Human Resources has his
blood drawn for InSTEP (Insulin Support,
Tips and Exercise Program) by Fulton
County Public Health Nurse, Marva
Monroe.
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Standing at 6'4", there are very few things that are
above his height or beyond his reach. That is until
he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He found
himself in uncharted waters according to his life
plans.
As a retired Petty Officer of the U. S. Navy, an
Eagle Scout, and an area coordinator for north
Georgia Pathfinders, Lawsey S. Thomas Sr., MSHRM,
Deputy Director of Human Resources, has always been
prepared for his greatest challenges and seized
opportunities to develop as a leader for his country
and community. "Type 2 diabetes was totally
avoidable," said Thomas, the youngest of 11
children. "My two sisters had type 2 diabetes but I
did not know until I was diagnosed," he said. The
Georgia Department of Public Health(DPH) is urging
people like Thomas to know their health risks of
diabetes and to take steps to better manage their
health - to avoid diabetes or manage the disease.
People living with diabetes can take steps to
control the disease and lower the risk complications
according to the National Diabetes Education
Program.
"I was first diagnosed in 2000," Thomas said. "My
first doctor told me that I would be on medications
for type 2 diabetes for the rest of my life. But,
after speaking with my new primary doctor and
attending a recent lunch-n-learn for employees at 2
Peachtree, I now know that I can manage my diabetes
with a healthier diet, daily exercise, and
medication," said Mr. Thomas.
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Shoebox Party for Needy Moms and Children - A Good Deed
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HPDPP employees and staff decorated 50
shoeboxes filled with toiletries for needy
women and children.
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It has been said that, "Those who bring sunshine to the
lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." That's
exactly what the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Programs (HPDPP) staff, employees from Chronic Disease
Epidemiology Section and the Office of Training &
Workforce Development did on Valentine's Day at the
Georgia Department of Public (DPH). They filled
shoeboxes to bring love and needed supplies to the lives
of needy mothers and their children. They held a shoebox
party to support the United Way of Metropolitan
Atlanta's Shoebox Project. This event allowed staff to
continue their monthly teambuilding activities and help
some of Georgia's needy families. There were lots of
decorative boxes, toiletries, laughter and Valentine's
treats.
The Shoebox Project began in 2007 by Women's Legacy, a
United Way affinity group. The annual service project is
aimed at providing basic needs for homeless women and
children, while raising awareness about the alarming
growth of this often overlooked segment of the homeless
population. Last year, over 18,000 shoeboxes were
collected and distributed to more than 60 agencies.
Families with children are among the fastest-growing
segments of the homeless population. More than 45,500
children experience homelessness each year in Georgia.
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Incentives Vital in Promoting Fresh Food
 A
program in Georgia is seeing rapid growth, and with
that growth, Georgians who receive federal and state
nutrition benefits are seeing an increase in their
access to fresh produce. Wholesome Wave Georgia (WWG)
creates a simple incentive to encourage federal and
state nutrition benefit recipients to spend their
dollars at producer-only farmers markets. All WWG
partner markets are producer only, with emphasis on
local and organic farming practices. We strive to
connect farmers to all consumers, regardless of
income. We work to protect local, sustainable,
family farms and allow them to benefit from our
incentive program.
WWG leverages existing government food nutrition
programs to encourage shopping at farmers markets.
Every state and federal nutrition benefit dollar
spent at WWG partner farmers markets becomes two
dollars for patrons and for local food producers.
WWG collects private, or other, funds and distribute
them to WWG's network of partner farmers markets,
who use the funds to double the value of benefits
for those receiving them.
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Replace Sodium and Empty Calories with Wholesome Foods to
'Get Your Plate in Shape' during National Nutrition Month
 Grocery
store shelves and restaurant menus are often
crowded with foods containing solid fats,
added sugars and high levels of sodium.
During National Nutrition Month®, the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly
the American Dietetic Association) is
helping Americans understand how to get the
most nutrients they need from the foods they
eat, all surrounding this year's theme: "Get
Your Plate in Shape."
"When people eat foods that have added
sugars and solid fats, they are
consuming extra calories they don't
need," says registered dietitian and
Academy Spokesperson Angela Ginn. "These
'empty calories' are found in a number
of foods and drinks and offer
little-to-no nutritional benefits."
Foods high in solid fats (like sausage,
shortening and cream) and added sugars
(such as regular soda and pastries)
should be considered occasional treats
rather than regular options. Eating
these foods on a regular basis can cause
you to consume more calories than your
body needs in one day.
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Home
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Partner Up! for Public Health |
Health District Trained in SNS |
When to Buy Organic |
Beat Type 2 Diabetes |
Shoebox Party for Needy |
Promoting Fresh Food |
Get Your Plate in Shape |
PHBRIEFS |
PHRECIPE |
PHTRAINING |
PHEVENTS
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PHNEWS
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