Concerned for the well-being of the neediest citizens of Richmond, Mayor Dwight C. Jones has introduced The Healthy Richmond Campaign, which officially kicks off this month with the “Get Healthy-Stay Healthy” Expo (details below).
The initiative grew out of a series of recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy, which Mayor Jones formed last fall to address some of his concerns. The commission was comprised of health experts including physicians, hospital executives and mental health and clinical providers as well as other members of the community.
The Commission offered five suggestions the help improve the city: impact health and social equity policy by creating an infrastructure that promotes healthy living; address behavioral health issues through prevention and intervention for at-risk children and their families; eliminate barriers that impact access to health care; encourage health care providers to practice in underserved areas of the community; and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.
“Through the Commission’s efforts, we are working to find ways to ensure that our residents have access to quality health care, but at the same time we have to promote healthy lifestyles that support healthy choices and outcomes,” Mayor Jones says.
As part of the Healthy Richmond Campaign, city officials will work with the public to encourage healthy living in a number of ways: promote physical activity through usage of the city’s pedestrian and bicycle trails and the Richmond Let’s Move! Initiative; promote breast feeding; engage senior citizens and special populations in the campaign’s goals; and develop a Food Policy Task Force that well help increase access to local and fresh food, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.
“With the campaign we want to be the conduit through which more Richmond residents make the decision to improve their health and engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors,” the Mayor adds.
“I’m very pleased with the direction that the campaign is going. Based on the response we’ve received thus far, I anticipate that the public will be very enthusiastic about our message to get healthy and stay healthy. We are also working to ensure that our city is more pedestrian friendly to support an active lifestyle. We’ve begun installing bike sharrows and we have strategies in the works to create more walkable spaces and green spaces for Richmond residents to enjoy.”
Mayor Jones is looking forward to the Health Expo and what it will offer for citizens. Thousands of people are expected to attend.
“The event is our hard launch of the campaign,” he explains.
“The launch will broaden the exposure and interest in our campaign and our efforts. The expo will be a community event that the public can enjoy with an emphasis on active lifestyles, healthy nutrition and preventative health and well-being. It will be fun for the whole family.”
—-
What: The “Get Healthy-Stay Healthy” Health Expo
When: Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Greater Richmond Convention Center
Cost: Free
For more information: RichmondGov.com
Highlights: Free health tests and screenings, medical and health information, healthy cooking demonstrations, interactive sports activities for families, classes in acupuncture, massage and tai-chi, workshops about healthy environments in homes and the workplaces, information about community gardens and more.