From the Beaufort County Public Health Department

Each year during the first full week in April, the American Public Health Association brings together communities across the United States to observe and recognize National Public Health Week. This is a time used to recognize the contributions public health makes toward improving our nation.

Some may not realize how much public health is a part of their daily lives. Public health is involved with the water that you drink, the restaurants you visit, the shelters that are opened during emergencies and much, much more. Public health serves to promote and protect the health of people within the communities where they learn, work, play and live. Public health focuses on preventing illness by encouraging healthy behaviors. Public health also works with tracking disease outbreaks, preventing injuries, administering and tracking immunizations and helping provide solutions to community health problems.

To celebrate National Public Health Week, and the many entities that partner with public health, Beaufort County Public Health Department is hosting the 411 Community Health Fair. This event is an opportunity to highlight the different public health services and those who work to improve the health and safety of Beaufort County. The following agencies will be participating in the 411 Community Health Fair: Beaufort County Health Department, Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Emergency Management; Beaufort County Emergency Medical Service, Washington Police and Fire Rescue, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, BC Police Activities League, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Tayloe’s Hospital Pharmacy, Grace Harwell Senior Center, Washington Parks and Recreation, Beaufort County Community College, Beaufort/Hyde Partnership for Children, the REAL Crisis Center, Gentiva Home Health, Community Hospice, Trillium Health Resources and BHM Regional Library.

The 411 Community Health Fair will be held at Beaufort County Health Department, located at 1436 Highland Drive, Washington. The event will take place Saturday, April 2, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be face painting/tattoos, a fossil pit (donated by PotashCorp-Aurora), balloon animals, a photo booth and tons of giveaways and prizes!

This event is free and no one is going to want to miss it!

“I’m very excited about the fact that we will be able to offer this to our community. This is a great opportunity for them to see what’s going on in prevention and safety,” said James Madson, director of Beaufort County Health Department.

If raining, the event will take place inside of the health department. Rain or shine, we hope to see everyone at the 411 Community Health Fair. Don’t miss this great opportunity. For more information, contact Shelia Sauls, Beaufort County Health Department, at 252-946-1902.