SOPHE SALUTES PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALISTS ON "PUBLIC HEALTH THANK YOU DAY"
4,000 SOPHE members are actively working to make the healthy choice, the easy choice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 21, 2011
WASHINGTON –The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) celebrates today the outstanding work of public health education professionals on Public Health Thank You Day.
"SOPHE's 4,000 national, international, and chapter members are 'foot soldiers' on the frontline working to modify policies, systems and organizations to make the healthy choice, the easy choice, where people live, work, learn and play," said Elaine Auld, chief executive officer for SOPHE. "We also salute their efforts in educating individuals and communities about important actions they can take to maintain or improve their health."
In addition to health education specialists, Public Health Thank You Day applauds those heroes who develop vaccines to combat disease, keep our air and water clean, quickly respond to food borne illnesses, and work to improve the quality of life.
A new public opinion poll commissioned by Research!America shows 86% of Americans say it's important to increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The poll also found that more than half of Americans say the government should play a role in prevention research to help Americans make behavioral changes to reduce their risk for chronic diseases.
Today, SOPHE says thank you to health education specialists as they work to prevent chronic disease, engage in environmental health and emergency preparedness, promote health in families, schools and worksites, and advance our mission of building a healthy world through health education.
In acknowledging Public Health Thank You Day, SOPHE joins its organizational partners, including Research!America, American Public Health Association, Association of Schools of Public Health, Campaign for Public Health Foundation, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, and National Association of County & City Health Officials.
About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a non-profit professional organization founded in 1950 to provide global leadership to the profession of health education and health promotion and to promote the health of society. SOPHE's 4,000 national, international and chapter members work in various public and private organizations to advance health education theory and research, develop disease prevention and health promotion programs, and promote public policies conducive to health. For more information, go to www.sophe.org.
Media contact: Ami Neiberger-Miller, 703.887.4877, news@sophe.org
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