Kayla Sims
Staff Writer
In honor of NPHW, National Public Health Week, Jackson State University’s School of Public Health hosted a week filled with events anchored by public health concepts, values and the resolution of healthcare issues.
Each year, the American Public Health Association dedicates the first full week in April to recognizing public health and emphasizing important issues within the United States.
JSU’s NPHW forum began on April 1 with an opening ceremony dedicated to the professors within the department.
The ceremony gave them the opportunity to share how they have inspired their communities on improving health.
Sharray Baker, a sophomore healthcare administration major from Biloxi, Miss., said people should take public health more seriously.
“Public health is one of the few things in life that we have control over,” said Baker. “I want to help people, that is why I chose my major and what better way to help people than to start within the inside,” said Baker.
JSU is the only university in Mississippi with a School of Public Health. Prospective undergraduate students can choose from healthcare administration and communicative disorders majors.
Zykeira Long, a senior communicative disorders major from Springfield, Ill., encourages everyone to educate themselves on the power public health holds within our lives.
“Jackson State is doing something great by recognizing public health week. Public health should be the utmost important thing within our community. By recognizing the importance of public health, we make our communities and our environment safer and we live longer,” said Long.
JSU’s School of Public Health also offers a variety of graduate programs for students who want to further their education within the department.
Luma Akil, an assistant professor for the Department of Behavioral and Environmental Health, teaches students how to recognize issues within the environment.
“I give my students real life examples. I have them go out into their own communities and do an observational project, whether it be water quality, the air quality, or even the food. I also teach a graduate class that focuses on safety issues within the workplace,” said Akil.
The department was awarded the Community Change Grant from Walks of America and has been approved for the next two school semesters.
The grant is to increase the use of the walking trail to JSU’s off campus facilities like the Medical Mall.
They were also awarded the March of Dimes Community Health Grant partnering to improve African-American women’s preconception health.
Joanne Phillips, a retired nurse from Jackson, Miss., was invited to attend all events for NPHW.
“It is a blessing that I get to attend these events,” said Phillips “When I was in school, there wasn’t any courses or classes that talked about public health. I am grateful that my former school has added the major, it gives opportunity to the new generations to discover something new.”
The School of Public Health encouraged students to participate in all events scheduled for this week.
“At Jackson State, we have different events, not just for this week, but we have events all semester long. I think this week students will enjoy because most of these events are fun and anchor towards the awareness for public health. The ceremony, the health fair, and the hotspot, it is all for the students and hosted by us,” said Akil
NPHW is not only for students, but also for faculty and staff to help promote, educate and increase awareness within the Jackson community and all over the world.
