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Legislators, Advocates Kick Off Public Health Week with a Walk Around the Capitol

By: CHP | Posted on: April 7th, 2009 | 14 comments | Share:
Categories: Public Health

The kick-off event for National Public Health Week in Oregon was on Monday, April 6. On the most beautiful day of the year (check it: nearly 70 degrees and sunny, in April, in Oregon!), state legislators, their aides, public health professionals, non-profit advocates, and maybe even some folks who just wanted to step out for a nice walk gathered on the steps of the Capitol Building just after noon. In all, over 50 people joined Community Health Priorities in our walk for public health. Check out some photos here.

What was behind this event? On behalf of Community Health Priorities, Senator Ginny Burdick challenged Oregon legislators to join her and walk their talk – to become physically active and engage with their community and physical environment, starting with a mile-long walk in the State Capitol Building’s neighborhood. The legislators who took her up on the challenge included Senators Burdick, Richard Devlin, Laurie Monnes Anderson, Diane Rosenbaum, Suzanne Bonamici, Jackie Dingfelder, and Mark Hass; and Representatives Jean Cowan, Mary Nolan, Tobias Read, Nancy Nathanson, Jules Bailey, and Carolyn Tomei. These legislators are aiming to walk at least 7.7 miles before the end-of-day Friday. (On average, it takes about 2,000 steps to talk a mile). Follow their progress in the Comments section, below.

But why were we walking around the Capitol in the first place? What does that have to do with public health? It’s actually quite simple. Research has clearly shown that the built environment impacts health, and by getting out in the streets around the Capitol, it was apparent how our surroundings can help us or deter us from being physically active. As Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., acting state public health director for the Oregon DHS Public Health Division says, “The environment around us has changed in ways that have increased our intake of calories and decreased opportunities to be physically active – from cheap fast food to video games, from buildings that encourage taking the elevator to neighborhoods where it’s easier and safer to drive than walk. We need to change that environment so that it supports us in making healthy choices.” Jim Hill, former State Treasurer and Chair of the Board of the Northwest Health Foundation, added, “What we do today will send a strong message that all of us want to prioritize health and the Legislature can play a particularly important role in this. For example last session, our state legislature made it easier for women to express breast milk for their babies at work. They helped get junk food out of school vending machines. And they eliminated cigarette smoke from every workplace in Oregon. “

We applaud those legislators who joined in this first step toward creating an environment that makes it easy for Oregonians to make the healthy choice. What do you think about this event? Does your community support you in making healthy choices? Did one of your legislators join un in the Public Health Walk? Let us know what you think, and remember: Start walking!