National Public Health Week 2006 on the campus of Florida A&M University will include free food, free testing and free health fairs. Presented by Future Public Health Professionals and the Student Government Office of the Surgeon General, NPHW promotes health and awareness in Leon County and surrounding areas.
“Health is a global issue,” said Student Government Surgeon General Brian Perry. “It is not one that is confined to health science majors or social status. We encourage all to participate.”
Beginning today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Set, NPHW kicks off “Morning Starters: A look into nutrition.” Vendors have provided healthy food and drinks to be distributed to those in attendance.
Tuesday marks “In The Know,” a day of free testing and screenings. Starting at 10 a.m., Leon County Health Department in conjunction with Shisa will provide free HIV/AIDS testing as well as blood pressure and glucose screenings. These services will be rendered on the Set, the New Pharmacy Building and the A.L. Cooper Room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NPHW continues on Wednesday, honoring women’s health with a “Women’s Health Fair,” also on the Set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the health fair, there will be a “Diaper Drop-Off Competition” in which colleges, schools, and student organizations compete to collect the most diapers before 2 p.m. on the Set.
The winner of the Diaper Drop-Off Competition will be announced during Thursday’s event, “Survival of the Fittest: How public health affects your life.” Student Body President-elect Phillip Agnew and Vice President-elect Monique Gillum will host Survival of the Fittest with special guests including Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee.
Other panelists include professors Levy Ross and Fran Close. “Survival of the Fittest” will take place Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.
Tony Pearson, president of FPHP, said, “This week, in its entirety is important. However, I must say that Survival of the Fittest is the highlight of the week. It is going to be an honor having Rep. Richardson as our guest.”
Friday’s event, “Heart of a Champion,” will close out the week’s activities and introduce those of the weekend. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, Heart of a Champion will be held on the Set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to the Healthy Americans Organization, public health is an effort organized by society to protect, promote, and restore the people’s health. That is the objective of the president of FPHP Tony Pearson, Student Government Association Surgeon General Brian Perry, the American Heart Association, LCHD, Shisa and all of the speakers, attendees and distinguished guests.
“Seatbelt Safety” will be held in Lake Ella on Monroe Street on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and the wrap-up of this seven-day awareness assembly will be Sunday with “Care in the Kitchen: Proper food preparation and storage techniques.”
“We were brought up thinking that all the food we ate was healthy,” said Kevin Grant, 25, a senior political science student from Winter Haven. “I think it’s very important to understand what types of food we should and should not eat, and how to properly prepare them.”
For location, directions or just general inquires, contact Tony Pearson at tony.thekaosgroupe@gmail.com or SGA Office of the Surgeon General at famu_surgeongeneral@yahoo.com.
Contact Stankeisha Burchell at famuannews@hotmail.com