By Samer Koutoubi, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Director, Public Health, American Military University
American Public University System is proud to partner with the American Public Health Association (APHA) to celebrate National Public Health Week, April 6 to 12.
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In the midst of the most challenging public health crisis of our lifetimes, it’s more important than ever to celebrate public health. So we say, “Thank you, public health professionals, for protecting our communities during the COVID-19 crisis.”
At APUS, we take health and education seriously. We are committed to preparing our public health students to serve as practitioners, researchers and instructors and to effectively carry out broad public health functions.
During each day of National Public Health Week, we are focusing on COVID-19 and how we can make an impact to contain and then eliminate this coronavirus pandemic.
NPHW 2020 Daily Themes
Monday: Mental Health — Advocate for and promote emotional well-being. COVID-19 is causing heightened levels of stress. In particular, isolation and quarantine can be highly stressful. That includes separation from loved ones, especially those detained off-shore or in other countries. Many in the public health and health care sectors, as well as those working in affected industries, are shouldering a significant mental health burden.
Check the following resources:
- World Health Organization’s Mental Health Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tips on managing anxiety and stress.
Tuesday: Maternal and Child Health — Ensure the health of mothers and babies throughout their lifespan. Research to date finds pregnant women and young children do not seem to be more susceptible to COVID-19. If anything, women (in general) may have a survival advantage over men. (In China, 2.8% of infected men have died, compared to 1.7% of women.)
Check the following resources:
- Check out the Kaiser Family Foundation’s issue brief Novel Coronavirus “COVID-19”: Special Considerations for Pregnant Women.
- org COVID-19 page for children and families.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics clinical guidance and other resources,
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists practice advisory.
Wednesday: Violence Prevention — Reduce personal and community violence to improve health. Increased stress can lead to increased aggression, feeding a cycle of violence especially in communities already under strain. As APHA member Elena Ong writes in this Public Health Newswire post, “Since the first case of the new coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China, in December, there’s been a surge in reports of microaggressions, discrimination and violent attacks against people who look Chinese or Asian.”
Check the following resources:
- World Health Organization’s WHO’s mythbusters
- APHA’s COVID-19 pageand Get Ready site
Thursday: Environmental Health — Help protect and maintain a healthy planet. In perhaps one of the few silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollution — specifically CO2 levels — diminished in Italy due to dramatic lifestyle changes. Yet as always, changes in people’s lifestyle patterns can have unexpected consequences on our environment.
For now, remain vigilant in recycling plastics. If you are sick, dispose of soiled items by double-bagging in secured containers with lids. Continue to advocate for increased funding to improve our water infrastructure and adequate funding to support public health workers in monitoring, preparing for and responding to the health effects of climate change.
Friday: Education — Advocate for quality education and schools. As with any illness, reliance on science-based information and response is key. Schools at all levels should be engaged in active surveillance and communicate with their state and local public health departments should a person display possible COVID-19 symptoms.
Distance learning is now more necessary than ever, heightening the need for access to technology and high-speed internet as schools are often the key source of daily nutrition for students in low-income families, school systems are now called on to find ways to distribute meals while maintaining social distancing.
Check the following resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advice on how to talk to them about COVID-19
- Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting From COVID11-19 National Association of School Psychologists.
Saturday: Healthy Housing — Ensure access to affordable and safe housing. During the COVID-19 quarantine, people are spending even more time in their homes than usual. For those living in unsafe environments, problems like mold and secondhand smoke exposure can worsen existing health conditions.
Check the following resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CDC’s workplace, home and school guidance.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CDC’s Protect Your Home page
- The National Center for Healthy Housing’s Fact Sheets, Checklists and Guides page
Sunday: Economics — Advocate for economic empowerment as the key to a healthy life. One of the most dramatic reactions to COVID-19 has been that of the stock markets and the underlying industries they represent. It already appears clear that many industries and their employees will suffer a significant financial hardship. On an individual level, the burden of being out of work and (potentially) hospitalized for an extended period of time can have disastrous impacts on financial health.
Check the following resources:
APHA Is Urging the Public Health Community to Share Science-Based Information
The APHA urging the public health community to share science-based information with the public and are speaking out for outbreak response funding and support:
- Coronavirus: How to protect yourself from COVID-19 (tips and resources to share with your friends, family and community)
- Public Health Newswire post series and public health headlines
- COVID-19 Conversations: A new APHA/National Academy of Medicine webinar series
- Prioritize public health in legislation to combat COVID-19 (APHA action alert)
- APHA denounces “missed opportunity to ensure care and save lives” (APHA news release)
- A deficit of 250,000 public health workers is no way to fight COVID-19 (APHA Epidemiology Section editorial)
- Letter to House and Senate leaders urging a significant, long-term investment in public health infrastructure in future legislation to speed pandemic response
- Letter to the administration urging action to alleviate the critical national shortage of ventilators and personal protective equipment
- APHA applauds passage of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (APHA news release)
- Letter to Congress in support of the PAID Leave Act
- Letter to the vice president and congressional leaders in support of additional actions to address mental health and substance use needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Countering the “infodemic” of misinformation (highlights of APHA media coverage)
- COVID-19 is a pandemic, “But people should not panic.” (Georges Benjamin on YouTube)
About the Author
Dr. Samer Koutoubi earned his Ph.D. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University in 2001. He earned his M.D. degree in 1988 from Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Dr. Koutoubi’s research focuses on coronary heart disease among tri-ethnic groups including African-Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics. His interest is in disease prevention and wellness, epidemiological research, cardiovascular disease and nutrition, homocysteine metabolism, lipoprotein metabolism, and cultural food and health. Dr. Koutoubi has also authored a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals and written a book review.
He served as the Editor-in-Chief for The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine and reviewed manuscripts for The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Ethnicity and Disease Journal, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and The Journal of The National Medical Association. Dr. Koutoubi has written for several blogs, such as In Homeland Security, Online Learning Tips, MultiBriefs, Medium and Healthcare POV. He has also been quoted in national magazines and newspapers, including Natural Health Magazine, Energy Time, Well Being Journal, Northwest Prime Time and Natural Food Merchandiser.
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