Middleton Public Health Department Celebrates National Public Health Week

MIDDLETON — The Middleton Public Health Department announces that it is joining the American Public Health Association (APHA) this week to celebrate National Public Health Week.

This year, National Public Health Week runs from April 2-8. It aims to strengthen the profession of public health, foster understanding, engagement and support for key public health issues, and directly influence public policy to improve global health.

To get involved, Middleton Public Health Director Derek Fullerton facilitated a tour of the Public Health Museum in Tewksbury -- the nation’s first public health museum -- with dental assistant students from the Essex Agricultural and Technical High School.

"It may surprise some that oral health falls under the public health field, but it's just one of many, many areas of people's everyday lives that we impact through our work," said Fullerton. "I hope that National Public Health Week will encourage residents to learn more about the field of public health and all that we do behind the scenes to keep our communities healthy."

Fullerton, who is also the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association, recently sent a proclamation to Governor Charlie Baker's office requesting that the first full week in April be declared Massachusetts Public Health Week. The proclamation has been accepted to align with the national recognition.

The field of public health ranges from physicians, nurses, and first responders to health educators, restaurant inspectors, social workers and sanitarians. This also includes board of health members who volunteer their time, as well as residents who serve on advisory committees and task forces that play an important role in public health.

Middleton Public Health reminds residents that public health is behind the scenes of everyone's “day,” protecting them in areas like getting enough sleep, brushing teeth (oral health), eating healthy and properly cooked meals (nutrition and safe food), commuting to work (seat belts, safe pedestrian walkways, roads and rail trails), attending school (properly immunized), picking up an iced coffee or sandwich (permitted and inspected food facilities), participating in sports (physical activity and head injury prevention and sports camp licensing), healthy workplaces (smoke free workplace law), and safe homes (sanitary housing) with clean water and proper wastewater disposal.

 For more information about National Public Health Week, click here