PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Every year during National Public Health Week, the American Public Health Association chooses to highlight 5 new key health issues.
One of those key health issues they are highlighting for the 30th anniversary of NPHW is ‘Climate Action’.
According to the website, this is something that can affect a population’s mental and physical well-being. It lists examples such as rising temperatures, low air quality, disrupted ecosystems, and disastrous weather events.
Susan Polan is the Public Affairs and Advocacy Associate Executive Director with the APHA. She says, “climate change is an existential threat” and is something “people are experiencing the impact of right now in this time.”
It is an important issue to continue to raise up and to have people understand the implications of the change in climate on their day-to-day life. It’s everything from extreme weather to drought and problems and increased insects in communities... which means increased disease carrying insects that we need to be concerned about.
One of the most effective ways to take climate action, according to the NPHW website and nearby health departments is staying prepared.
Malcolm Lanham, the Community Health and Threat Preparedness Director at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, echoes a phrase from the CDC: “a healthy community is a prepared community”.
Lanham says the MOVHD will be doing more community preparedness-related courses, such as first aid classes.
Over in Athens County, Jack Pepper the administrator of the county health department, says they have two programs that deal with climate action.
“We do have an emergency response coordinator here and that particular job is tasked with developing plans in how we’re going to respond in particular to public health issues, but also how we can be a support mechanism in the event of a natural disaster,” says Pepper.
In the Vector Disease Control program, Pepper says they have a heavy focus on “mosquitoes and ticks”. They make it their goal to stay informed as they discover new species and keep the public informed on “what diseases there are, how they can protect themselves... [and] where are the resources for them to get the care that they need to treat those diseases.”
According to Administrator Courtney Midkiff with the Meigs County Health Department, their emergency preparedness program is funded through the Ohio Department of Health.
The Meigs County Health Department has worn many hats when it comes to climate action, Midkiff says, "We’ve sent staff to help with different clean-up efforts. We do have a mobile hospital we can deploy if needed to assist."
When a tornado came through the Northwestern part of the county, she says they responded.
“If they needed supplies taken from the base to an individual home, we did that. We did take our emergency response trailer up there with supplies when we’ve had other things,” says Midkiff.
While we’re not necessarily first responders to emergencies, we find that we do get requests for assistance, and we just try to step up in any way our resources are available to help.
Another dimension of climate action nearby health departments are involved in is restaurant inspections.
Kelly Miller, the Environmental Health Director with the Marietta-Belpre Health Department, says part of her job is working with food handlers and managers to make sure they are abiding by the Ohio Food Safety Code.
Flooding is the typical event Marietta deals with, according to Miller.
You can read part one of the National Public Health Week series here: National Public Health Week: Your health is their mission
See an error in our reporting? Send us an email by clicking here!
Copyright 2025 WTAP. All rights reserved.
