What best way to encourage health and fitness but through National Public Health Week (NPHW), the first full week of April each year. This is a time to showcase what public health offers the community to contribute steps toward being the healthiest nation.

We kick off National Public Health Week right after the end of National Nutrition Month® which encourages healthy eating and physical activity habits, and is just one of many messages during the first week of April.

NPHW celebrates the public health system by demonstrating its value to the public. Public health offers a variety of programs to ensure communities are safe and healthy in which we live, work, and play. Your local health district, Panhandle Health District (PHD), is staffed with dietitians, nurses, health educators, environmental health specialists, and other professionals to deliver its mission to Prevent disease, Promote healthy lifestyles and Protect the health and quality of the environment in North Idaho.

PHD is hosting activities during NPHW to remind the public about its mission and that healthy habits can be both fun and feasible. Yesterday we held the 3rd annual North Idaho Walking Day. Tomorrow, April 6, PHD is hosting the North Idaho Bridging the Gap Dinner at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn at 6 pm. Parents and guardians of pre-teens and teens are welcome to enjoy a 3-course dinner at no cost while learning about tools and strategies for addressing healthy relationships and sex with their children. Reserve your seat by calling (208) 415-5140.

This Saturday PHD is hosting its 2nd North Idaho Mommyfest! This no cost event for mothers and mothers-to-be is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hayden building, 8500 N. Atlas Road. Mommyfest will feature booths hosted by local health experts to provide information on child care, family nutrition, physical activity, and more! Services that will be offered are car seat safety checks, dental fluoride varnishes, WIC walk-in availability, and breastfeeding consultations. There will be giveaways and a chance to win prizes. You don’t want to miss it!

Join Panhandle Health District during National Public Health Week to highlight public health’s efforts for a safer and healthier community and taking steps towards achieving healthiest nation by 2030!

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Kimberly Young, MS, RDN, LD, is the WIC Coordinator at Panhandle Health District and a graduate of the University of Idaho Dietetic program.