STOP. GUN. VIOLENCE.
Our mission is to be the inclusive voice for Public Health, to proactively advocate for policies that reduce health disparities and empower all people to achieve their optimal health, and to advance the practice of public health in Ohio.
A Message from our President
Tunu Kinebrew
OPHA President
Happy New Year to all! As we continue our work in public health and wonder what the year 2022 will bring, I am continually appreciative to all who devote their lives to statewide and local public health efforts. We all play a critical role in the promotion of health, prevention of disease and the empowerment of individuals and communities thru health education. Yet despite the demands of your daily work, we are coming together under the mission of OPHA to be the statewide inclusive voice for public health.
As I reflect on all that has taken place in the last two years, I am reminded that it is not selfish but necessary to take care of yourself and pursue your happiness to give your family and community the best of you. In these times how do we decompress to be reenergized? Maybe this is the year to create new healthy outlets for decompression. Thank you for all the work you have done and continue to do as the backbone of the public health system in Ohio.
We all want better health for all Ohioans. This year, let us recommit ourselves to the mission of OPHA. We ask you for your time and expertise as we continue in 2022 with advocacy and education.
Hope to see you soon!
Health and Equity in All Policies
The places we live, learn, work and play affect our health and yet they are far too often over looked. This is why considering health and equity in all policies, at every level, is so important. Unfortunately, Ohio consistently falls in the bottom quartile in most national health rankings and this trend continues despite efforts to improve health status. It is imperative to look at the inequitable environmental and socioeconomic factors that may contribute to Ohio’s poor health outcomes.
The Health and Equity in All Policies (HEiAP) initiative provides state and local officials with an opportunity to apply a health and equity lens at the early and conceptual stages of policy development. This assessment tool is intended to inform policymakers of any potential negative health and equity impacts, prior to making any final decisions, and is designed to complement existing legislative and administrative processes.
OPHA Updating Climate Report
Ohio Public Health Resiliency Coalition is in the process of updating the 2017 report on public health impacts of climate change and climate-related weather events in Ohio communities. Potential public health-related impacts associated with climate change include: extreme weather events; decline in air quality; increased production of pollens; heat stroke and heat-related illnesses; altered environmental … Continue reading
Ohio Journal of Public Health
The recent edition of the The Ohio Journal of Public Health is filled with interesting research briefs and articles. Topics include The High Cost of Opiods in Pregnancy, Effects of Regional Income, Race, and Educational Level on Incidence of Diabetes and Heat Disease in Ohio, and Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adults in Ohio, to name just a few. Check out the publication here.
Continuing our Work: Dental Health Access
The COVID-19 pandemic is a reminder that our healthcare system is not equitable, including access to oral health care and dental services. Dental providers are not distributed equitably across all population groups and geographic areas. Persons of color are underrepresented among dental providers, creating issues of trust for those seeking care. Those living in rural communities often travel long distances to find a dentist. Language and other cultural barriers exist for a growing number of immigrants… Continue reading
