HARRISBURG, Pa., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- PA Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll and Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson today kicked off “Public Health Week” in Pennsylvania.
“This week, we point out that health disparities represent a chronic condition that must be addressed in our nation, state and communities,” said Dr. Johnson. “We also want to recognize the strong community partnerships working to develop new approaches and find solutions to eliminate health disparities.”
This year’s theme, “Eliminating Health Disparities: Communities Moving from Statistics to Solutions,” focuses on ways that race and ethnicity, gender, education or income, disability, geographic location and sexual orientation affect health status. Each factor provides the public health system with unique challenges and opportunities.
In Pennsylvania: -- African American residents have a significantly higher mortality rate than white residents for heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, diabetes, homicide, HIV/AIDS, asthma and drug-induced deaths. -- Almost twice as many men die of lung cancer than women. -- Only 67 percent of women over age 40 without a high school diploma had a mammogram in the past two years, compared to 79 percent of women with some college education. -- Forty-five percent of adults without a high school diploma engage in no leisure time physical activity, compared to only 14 percent of college graduates. -- Urban Pennsylvania has approximately 153 primary care physicians for every 100,000 residents; rural Pennsylvania only has approximately 76 primary care physicians for the same number of residents. -- Significantly fewer African American and Hispanic residents have health insurance and an ongoing source of primary care than white residents.
Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll and Dr. Johnson kicked off Public Health Week activities with a one-mile walk in Harrisburg. For the duration of the week, Dr. Johnson will travel across the state to recognize partnerships that have demonstrated good public health through eliminating health disparities. His schedule is as follows:
Tues., April 6 Drexel University School of Public Health will hold a community forum and be joined with representatives from the American Public Health Association, Pennsylvania Public Health Association, Philadelphia Department of Health and the Center for Health Equality. Time: 10 a.m. Location: Ruffin Nichols Memorial AME Church, 626 N. 11th Street Philadelphia Liberty High School in the Bethlehem School District will demonstrate its newly implemented model injury prevention program and offer a tour of the Bethlehem Partnership’s mobile health vans that provide medical and dental services to students on site. Time: 2:45 p.m. Location: Liberty High School, Linden Street, Bethlehem Wed., April 7 Centre Volunteers in Medicine will provide a tour of its mobile dental clinic and highlight its services as one solution for getting dental care to the under and uninsured population of Centre County. Dr. Johnson will also announce the appointment of Howard Tolchinsky, DMD, as the State Public Health Dentist. Time: 9 a.m. Location: 251 Easterly Parkway, State College Titusville Area High School will feature its nationally recognized, revised curriculum to revolve around and promote physical activity. Time: 1:45 p.m. Location: 302 East Walnut Street, Titusville Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Northwest District Office will have an Open House to welcome community partners and highlight the work of District staff. Time: 4:30 p.m. Location: 19 McQuiston St., Jackson Center Thurs., April 8 North Catholic High School will be recognized for its achievements in having model health programs and curriculum to promote the health and wellness of their student citizens. Time: 8:45 a.m. Location: 1400 Troy Hill Road, Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will hold a press conference and public meeting to discuss regional issues related to health disparities and the response of public health partners from a variety of perspectives. Time: 10:15 a.m. Location: 130 De Soto St. Pittsburgh The Fayette County Community Health Improvement Partnership will announce its strategic plan for addressing area health care needs and the unveiling of the new logo for the Fayette County Tobacco Coalition. Time: 1:45 p.m. Location: Heritage Conference Room (first floor), 500 West Berkeley St., Uniontown Fri., April 9 Secretary Johnson will conclude Public Health Week with recognition of outstanding Health Department employees. Time: 10 a.m. Location: Keystone Building, Harrisburg
For more information on all Public Health Week activities, visit the Department of Health’s Web site at http://www.health.state.pa.us/.
CONTACT: Jessica Seiders Richard McGarvey (717) 787-1783
Pennsylvania Department of Health
CONTACT: Jessica Seiders or Richard McGarvey, +1-717-787-1783, both ofthe Pennsylvania Department of Health
Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/
Web site: http://www.health.state.pa.us/
