Press Release
| For More Information Contact: | For Release: |
| Julie Armstrong, Health Educator | Date: 4/4/01 |
| Phone: (937) 642-2053 | |
| Fax: (937) 642-2080 |
What Matters to You, Matters to Us: Healthy Families
The following article is a part of a series in celebration of Public Health Week April 2 – 8, 2000. Please join us in celebrating this national event by learning more about what public health is and what your health department does for your community.
Healthy FamiliesAn increase in life expectancy and control of infectious disease are two of the achievements public health has made in promoting healthy families. Healthy families are the core of a healthy community. Immunizations, cancer screening, vital statistics, monitoring infectious disease outbreaks, and health education are some of the services offered to promote healthy families.
In the early 1900’s, the three leading causes of death were pneumonia, tuberculosis and diarrhea and enteritis. In the late 20th century, this trend has reversed, with heart disease and cancer taking the lead in causes of death.
Local, state and federal public health initiatives aided in the decline of many of the infectious diseases. Local health departments made a substantial contribution to disease prevention activities by implementing sewage disposal, water treatment, food safety, organized solid waste disposal, chlorination of water and public education about food handling and hand washing. Animal, pest and mosquito control programs also led to the control of infectious disease.
Your Union County Health Department offers many services that promote healthy families and increased life expectancy, such as:
 | Vaccinations for children and adults |
| Dietary counseling |
| Blood pressure screening |
| Cancer screening and education |
| Information on precautions to take for foreign travel |
| Community health education programs |
For more information on services that promote healthy families, please call 937-642-0801 or 1-888-333-9461 for non-local calls.