Let’s Hear it for Prevention

Prevention is not only the best medicine, it’s the cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). To ensure that prevention is integrated into our nation's health care systems, the ACA created the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council, composed of the heads of 17 Federal agencies and chaired by the U.S. Surgeon General.

Earlier this year, the Surgeon General announced the National Prevention Strategy,  which is a comprehensive plan to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life by moving health care away from a system focused on sickness and disease, to one focused on wellness and prevention.

So how do we turn this plan into reality? The answer is that everyone has a role to play in a healthier community, state and nation.

The Surgeon General, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, is visiting regions around the country to launch this vision. She believes everyone – businesses, educators, health care institutions, government, communities and every single American – has a role to play.

Thursday December 8, 2011, Dr. Benjamin stopped in Chicago, and urged Illinois community leaders and public officials to take a pledge, committing themselves to do what they can to make healthier choices easier choices for themselves and the people in the communities they serve.

“I will be a leader to make healthier choices easier choices where I live, learn, work, play and pray.”

This is an unprecedented call to action is for individuals, communities, schools, faith institutions and employers to all take part. The pledge, and more information about the National Prevention Strategy is hosted by Community Commons and managed by Health & Disability Advocates and the Trust for America’s Health.

So what are you waiting for? Ask not what your country can do for your waistline. Ask what you can do to make your country healthier.

Take the prevention pledge today.