NASHUA – Because “public health is involved in all aspects of our lives,” the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services (DPHCS) is once again celebrating National Public Health Week beginning Monday and running through April 10.

Nashua DPHCS will kick off the week at noon on Monday, with a brief program at City Hall Plaza. Mayor Jim Donchess will speak, followed by a walk down Main Street to a Community Resource Fair.

Residents are urged to join the event in person, and it will also be streamed on Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/NashuaDPHCS.

Throughout the rest of the week, the agency will host diverse training and educational opportunities at www.nashuanh.gov/dphcs, where a full list of scheduled events can also be found.

All featured activities are free to the public.

It’s the 11th consecutive year Nashua has observed the week, which also involves its many community partners.

“This year’s theme, ‘Public Health is Where You Are,’ celebrates what we know is true: The places where we are, physically, mentally and societally, affect our health and our lives,” Nicole Chute, DPHCS health promotion and communication specialist, said in a statement.

“And as we move back toward gathering in person, weíre focusing not just on what we can do as individuals, but what we can do as communities to protect and prioritize public health,” she added.

Public health consists of “the science of protecting and improving the health of communities throughout education, promotion of healthy lifestyles and research for disease and injury prevention,” Chute said.

The mission of the Nashua DPHCS is to promote, protect, and preserve the health and well-being of residents of Greater Nashua through leadership and community collaboration.

In 2021, the Nashua DPHCS renovated its 18 Mulberry St. headquarters to enhance client access and improve service delivery by becoming more energy efficient and ADA compliant. These renovations included the addition of an elevator, a new roof, a new HVAC system, new windows, and new restrooms, as well as a complete interior makeover.

This past year, the DPHCS continued its work in Nashua and the region on its COVID-19 response using an equity lens to engage in efforts that prevent disease, mitigate adverse health outcomes, and protect the health and safety of the community.

In addition to holding testing and vaccine clinics and providing guidance and education to the community, the DPHCS continued to provide a range of direct services to ensure residents’ overall health and well-being.

Concurrent with the pandemic, the DPHCS increased access to services through the re-opening of the Community Health Clinic offering weekly immunizations, STD services, and child lead testing.

It also continued offering mobile outreach services, facilitated a virtual Mayorís Opioid Task Force legislative breakfast and a virtual Greater Nashua Public Health annual meeting, and identified goals, objectives, and strategies through the launch of the 2022 Community Health Improvement Plan to support efforts that promote equity and improve the economic, physical, and social environments that affect health.

“During National Public Health Week, the Nashua DPHCS and its partners will raise awareness of public health, promote healthy behaviors, and, of course, have fun,” Chute said.

“We will celebrate the power of prevention, advocate for healthy and fair policies, share strategies for successful partnerships, and champion the role of a strong public health system.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.