Links
The Mississippi Public Health Association is working to become more involved in advocacy efforts and more prepared to do so. Public health professionals need an objective, outside voice that can represent their interests as needed to call for adequate funding for public health services, policies that promote the health status of all Mississippians, and to represent our state's public health interests as needed at the national level. We encourage support, suggestions and - most importantly - activity from our membership as we work to become a more active advocate for public health issues.
As an Affiliate of the American Public Health Association, we look to the national group for leadership in advocacy. However, MPHA functions independently from the national association and may or may not support all views and positions taken by APHA. Some of the current APHA Advocacy Campaigns are listed below. For more information about public health advocacy efforts, please contact our APHA Delegate, Terri Sasser, at 601-260-2495 or tl_sasser@yahoo.com
APHA Public Health ACTion (PHACT) Campaign
APHA each year focuses its advocacy efforts during the Congressional recess in August. For information about this year's campaign, including a toolkit, sample letters, and fact sheets, go to:
http://www.apha.org/advocacy/tips/PHACT+Campaign.htmHealthiest Nation in One Generation
While America spends more money on health care than any other nation in the world, our health outcomes lag behind many other nations. The Healthiest Nation campaign is an effort to focus on areas in which improvements are sorely needed. For more information on this campaign, go to:
http://www.apha.org/advocacy/healthiestnation/Get Ready
The Get Ready campaign, sponsored by APHA, provides information, resources and tools to help individuals, families and communities in the United States prepare for a potential influenza pandemic, outbreak of an emerging infectious disease or other hazard or disaster. Additionally, as part of the Get Ready campaign, APHA focuses attention during time changes in the spring and fall on a campaign called "Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks" to encourage people to check and replenish emergency supply kits twice each year when time changes. For more information about the Get Ready campaign, go to:
http://www.getreadyforflu.org/newsite.htmNational Public Health Week
Since 1995, when the first full week of April was declared as National Public Health Week (NPHW), communities across the country have celebrated NPHW to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the public's health.
APHA serves as the organizer of NPHW and develops a national campaign to educate the public, policy-makers and practitioners about issues related to that year's theme. APHA creates comprehensive planning, organizing and outreach materials that can be used during and after the week to raise awareness. For more information about NPHW, go to:
http://www.nphw.org/nphw09/default.htm