IDPH celebrates 30 Days of Public Health with new podcasts, conference

Simmy Wood
·3 min read

CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will be celebrating public health departments throughout April with 30 Days of Public Health.

The observation amplifies National Public Health Week — which takes place on April 1-7. It includes activities that raise awareness of the importance of public health departments and the people in it. They will also highlight public health’s role in the health care system, the profession in general, and its career options.

“I am especially proud that here in Illinois, IDPH is extending the celebration to last the full month of April and marking 30 Days of Public Health,” Governor JB Pritzker said in a video message kicking off the celebration. “On this first day of April, the American Public Health Association is drawing attention to the intersection of civic engagement and public health. I encourage all Illinoisans to celebrate our public health workers, and to also do their part to make our state the best – and healthiest – it can be.”

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As part of the activities, the IDPH has started a daily audio series called “Public Health History Minute.” The show will discuss major moments in Illinois public health history, including the 1877 founding of the first statewide public health agency and efforts to combat polio, measles, and lead exposure.

A weekly podcast called “This is Public Health” will also be featured throughout the month. The first episode debuted on Monday, called “What a Healthy Illinois Looks Like.”

Here is what podcast listeners can look forward to the rest of April:

  • April 8: “Oral Health”

  • April 15: “Maternal Health & Congenital Syphilis”

  • April 22: “Wastewater Surveillance & Public Health”

  • April 29: “Moving Forward: Battling Disparities and Inequities in Public Health”

Both the “Public Health History Minute” and “This is Public Health” podcasts are available on the IDPH’s social media channels as well as Spotify.

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The main event of the month will be the 2024 Illinois Infectious Disease Conference in Bloomington on April 23-24. Though in-person registration is now closed, people may also attend virtually. The event’s theme is “Emerging Stronger” and will feature more than two dozen speakers.

“IDPH is excited to spotlight the stories of our communities and the public health heroes who protect and promote our health every day this month,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. “As we commemorate National Minority Health Month and broaden National Public Health Week into a month-long celebration, our goal is to raise awareness about the many ways our public health systems help our Illinois residents lead happy and healthy lives. Please engage with us on our website and social media channels and listen to our brand-new podcasts. Our goal is to share broadly all we do in public health.”

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The month-long celebration is also set alongside National Minority Health Month and Black Maternal Health Week on April 11-17. National Minority Health Month puts a spotlight on racial and ethnic health disparities for the four in 10 Illinoisans that come from minority populations.

This year’s theme is “Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections,” which aims to improve minority health through partnerships, cultural knowledge, and community-driven initiatives.

For more information on 30 Days of Public Health and the many activities and health-related celebrations going on throughout April, follow the IDPH on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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