April 1, 2024.Reno/Sparks, Nevada – This week is National Public Health Week, a day to celebrate all the successes public health has achieved in promoting and protecting the health of all people and their communities. As part of this week-long observation of his, Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is promoting a number of services and wellness activities.

“Public health includes all activities that help promote the health and well-being of communities and people,” said Kevin Dick, NNPH District Health Officer. “Public health interventions have increased life expectancy by reducing the spread of disease, promoting healthy environments, and enabling individuals to manage disease. They account for only 3% of health spending.

This week, NNPH is recognizing a public awareness campaign called 5210 Healthy Washoe, an easy-to-remember guideline to help you create healthy daily habits. The campaign encourages residents to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, no more than two hours of screen time, at least one hour of exercise, and no sugary drinks.

The goal of the 5210 Healthy Washoe campaign is to make the community aware of the guidelines in everyday settings such as schools, healthcare facilities, and daycare centers. For more information on this campaign, please visit 5210washoe.com.

This study is critical because obesity rates in Washoe County are increasing among both youth and adults. In 2022, 30% of adults in Washoe County were classified as obese, and more than 21% of youth were considered obese. Obesity puts you at risk for many chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea.

Welcoming the new building of the School of Public Health

As part of National Public Health Week, NNPH will participate in a ribbon-cutting event for the new School of Public Health building on Thursday at 3 p.m., next to the UNR Student Health Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. More information about the ribbon cutting can be found online.

New district health officer elected

At the March 28, 2024 District Health Board meeting, Chad Kingsley, MD, MBA was elected as the new District Health Officer for Washoe County. Please see here for the detail.

Media members interested in interviewing NNPH experts on public health-related topics during National Public Health Week should email health-media@nnph.org.

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Please note that the Washoe County Health District changed its name to Northern Nevada Public Health on August 31, 2023. Click here for details.

Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Commission on Public Health Accreditation and has jurisdiction over all public health issues in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe Counties through policy-setting District Health Boards. . NNPH is comprised of five departments: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services, and Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness. Learn more about.