Editor’s Note: Our fictional friends Jane and Zymir learn about the importance of Public Health Week with some help from Grandma.

By Robert Ambrose

Zymir: I feel bad.

Jane: Why? (Pause). Me, too.

Grandma: When you aren’t practicing a sport, what happens?

Zymir: You get worse at it.

Grandma: Same is true in life. If you aren’t helping others, then you might feel like you don’t have a purpose.

Jane: So, what do you do about it?

Grandma: (Smiling) As young people in your 20s, you will realize: you have to get involved. For example, check in with NPHW.

Zymir: What’s NPHW?

Grandma’: Not to go on a rant but National Public Health Week is beautiful way to do great things. You could make the whole neighborhood better and healthier by hosting anything from a bike ride to a community cleanup, or a community exercise, or a community potluck.

Jane: I hear community a lot in there.

Grandma: Exactly. It’s all about the community. There’s much more. For college students like you, host nar-can training in case of a drug overdose, set up an on-campus blood donation drive with the Red Cross, work with the recreation center to have an exercise class, invite therapy dogs during stressful times like college exams, host economical nutritious food classes because you are what you eat and manage a letter-writing campaign to decision-makers regarding important public health matters.

Zymir: You seem like a public health expert.

Grandma: I am an involved volunteer.

Jane: When does National Public Health Week start.

Grandma: Soon. April 1 to 7. Each day will have a different theme.

Jane: Like what?

Grandma: April 1 is Civic Engagement. Do a Pledge to Vote Campaign. Then greater numbers of people will turn up on election day. Higher voting percentages translate to healthier people.

Zymir: And Tuesday?

Grandma: Tuesday is Healthy Neighborhoods Day. We recognize that where we live, and work has a dramatic effect on our health.

Jane: What about Wednesday?

Grandma: Climate. We consciously try to buy less things so that there is simply less packaging floating around and less carbon footprint to buy the item in the first place. Americans have a lot of stuff, you know?

Zymir: That leaves Thursday through Sunday.

Grandma: Thursday is New Tools and Innovations. So, smartwatches can help us monitor health or remind us just to get out there and take a walk. Friday is Sexual Health Day when we consider cancers and STDs screening. Saturday is making a plan for a disaster – Emergency Preparedness – and tell your family. Then they can know what to do. Sunday is an easy day. Look at NPHW.org to learn how to balance resources to ensure all have resources to enjoy community well-being.

Jane: Okay. What can we do right now?

Grandma: Download the APHA Keep It Moving app. That way, through April 7, you can exercise, feel better and join the broad national conversation about public health. Community by community we aspire to build a healthier America than the path we’re on.

(Jane and Zymir on their phones in the Apple Store or Google Play Store download the free app.)