Submitted by Kassi Roselius, M.D., M.P.H.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services (CPNHS) Public Health would like to use this opportunity to promote health and wellness for our patient population and nationwide. Below is a list of topics and critical components to overall well-being we’re focusing on during National Public Health Week, which runs April 2-8. You can also learn more about National Public Health Week at nphw.org.
Monday, April 2: Behavioral health
Mental well-being is of utmost importance when discussing whole-body health and wellness. Often, patients show physical symptoms that are secondary to stress and anxiety. Daily life struggles can impede on an individual’s ability to manage personal health.
Citizen Potawatomi Nations’ Public Health department focuses on treating diagnoses such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, among others. It offers an array of services through its Behavioral Health Services (BHS) department.
Glenna Stumblingbear-Riddle, BHS director, and her team of colleagues provide exceptional care to Tribal members and employees. Counseling services, tobacco cessation programs and opioid addiction and overdose education are a few options available CPN Behavioral Health Services provides.
Patients also have access to outside resources and are provided with tools to help manage and cope in a variety of situations.
BHS benefits from many grant opportunities that assist the community and CPN tribal members.
Tuesday, April 3: Communicable diseases
Basic hand hygiene effectively reduces infections spread among a population if adhered to on a routine basis. Simply using soap and water to clean soiled hands can prevent the spread of germs and disease. Hand sanitizer can be an alternative if hands are not visibly dirty.
This season, influenza cases have dramatically increased compared to previous years, and the simple measure of hand sanitization can help prevent the spread of disease.
Public Health also promotes annual flu immunizations to decrease the number of influenza cases. Routine vaccines for childhood (measles, mumps, rubella) are also encouraged to protect infants and young children from preventable harmful diseases.
CPNHS health care providers and Public Health nurses assist with routine vaccinations and help ensure patients are up-to-date on their shots. CPNHS also offers HIV and hepatitis C screenings for patients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 13-64 be screened for HIV at least once in their lifetime, more frequently for those with higher risk factors. The CDC also recommends hepatitis C screenings for baby boomers, or people born between 1945 and 1965.
Talk to your local provider or our Public Health departments for more information: CPN East Clinic, 405-878-4693, or CPN West Clinic, 405-964-5770.
Wednesday, April 4: Environmental health
CPN is a committed, active Blue Zones Project partner. Many efforts have been put forth into making our community an environmentally friendly and accessible atmosphere.
The community-based Blue Zones Project’s goal is to improve our community’s well-being by introducing Power 9 principles into everyday lives: belong, family first, right tribe, purpose, down shift, move naturally, wine five, plant slant and 80 percent rule.
FireLake Discount Foods is the first grocery store in Pottawatomie County that is Blue Zones approved. FDF has at least one checkout lane offering healthy snack options, making the healthy choice the easy choice. CPN is also working to get a number of our worksites Blue Zones certified.
Public Health Week promotes individual efforts to improve environmental health such as walking, biking and using public transit.
Learn more at pottawatomie.bluezonesproject.com.
Thursday, April 5: Injury and violence prevention
Domestic violence prevention is at the forefront of the efforts for CPN’s House of Hope. It is the belief of this organization that no person should feel broken, threatened, scared, intimidated, manipulated or isolated in a relationship.
House of Hope offers free, safe and confidential support, including emergency shelter, emotional support, court advocacy, victim advocacy and community education. For more information, please visit cpnhouseofhope.com.
CPNHS pharmacy now carries naloxone — the potentially life-saving antidote to opioid overdose. Proper administration of this intranasal spray could reverse the effects of an unintentional opioid overdose.
CPNHS Public Health nurses provide education and instructions on how and when to administer naloxone. If you or a family member want more information about naloxone, available at both CPNHS East and West pharmacies, please contact CPN East Clinic, 405-878-4693, or CPN West Clinic, 405-964-5770.
Friday, April 6: Ensuring the right to health
To promote an environment of health and well-being, CPNHS Public Health offers free blood pressure readings and an assortment of giveaways 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 6 at FireLake Discount Foods, 1570 S. Gordon Cooper Drive in Shawnee.