NEW RIVER VALLEY – Health Department officials say they know transportation can sometimes keep people from getting the attention they need for their health.
In celebration of National Health Week, the Virginia Department of Health is taking to the streets in an effort to educate the communities about health issues and perform some routine screenings.
“The New River Health District’s mobile health bus will offer free health screening, giveaways and information on clinical and environmental health department services in a series of visits to local communities in celebration of National Public Health Week, April 1-5, 2019,” according to information released by the department.
“We are taking public health to the community and do not want lack of transportation to be a barrier to services,” said Noelle Bissell, M.D., director of the health district. “We know from our surveys that transportation is problematic and limits access to care.”
The services on the mobile unit will feature health screenings including body mass index (height and weight) and blood pressure.
“Hepatitis A vaccines and free test kits for radon in the home will also be available,” released information states. “Other giveaways and information on health department services and programs also will be provided.”
National Public Health Week is commemorated each year on the first full week of April. The American Public Health Association sponsors the week “as a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation’s health.”
Radford City Council recently passed a proclamation in honor of the health week encouraging “all citizens to lead a healthier life by making better choices in what they eat and how they live and what they do each and every day.”
There is a theme to the health week each year, “to educate the public, policymakers and practitioners about relevant health issues and creates materials to raise awareness about public health and prevention.”
“This year’s daily themes include Healthy Communities, Violence Prevention, Rural Health, Technology and Public Health, Climate Change and Global Health with an overarching goal of ‘Creating the Healthiest Nation. For science. For action. For health,’” according tot he health department.
The mobile health bus will be available at the following locations and times,including a stop in Fairlawn and one in Radford:
Monday, April 1:
9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Fairlawn
Jubilee Christian Center, 7331 Lee Highway
Tuesday, April 2:
9 a.m.-noon: Pulaski
Food City, 1400 Bob White Blvd.
1-4 p.m.: Dublin
Old Wade’s Supermarket, 200 Broad St.
Wednesday, April 3:
9 a.m.-noon: Floyd
Bread Basket, 2167 Webbs Mill Road, N
1-4 p.m.: Floyd
Slaughters’ Supermarket, 536 Floyd Highway, S
Thursday, April 4:
9 a.m.-noon: Narrows
Dollar General, 104 Old Virginia Ave.
1-4 p.m.: Pearisburg
Friends and Family Restaurant, 100 Woodland Drive
Friday, April 5:
9 a.m.-noon: Shawsville
Waldron Wellness Center, 267 Alleghany Spring Road
1-4 p.m.: Radford
Family Dollar, 800 W. Main St.
For more information about National Public Health Week, visit www.nphw.org/nphw-2019. For more information on hepatitis A, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/hepatitis-a. For more information on radon, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/radiological-health/indoor-radon-program. For information on immunizations and other health department services and locations, see www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/requirements or www.vdh.virginia.gov/new-river, or contact the New River Health District at 540-585-3300.
