DPH: 2023 is the year of “making healthier choices”

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Move and make conversation at this Saturday’s “Walk & Talk with DPH,” a monthly offering from the Houston County Health Department. Bring your tennis shoes, towel and water bottle, and come out at 9 a.m. to Memorial Park, 800 S. First Street, in Warner Robins, to learn more about how to fight chronic disease and make healthier choices during the new year — all while getting some steps in.

Christian Jordan, health education supervisor with the Houston County Health Department, said they began the Walk & Talk events last July, covering different aspects of health at each showing. This month’s event highlights fighting chronic conditions.

“We just really want to stress that this is a really great tool for people — not only people who have been trying to combat chronic diseases, [also] people who are trying to prevent — to come out, meet with a group of people, normal people and health care professionals, to get active and learn how to improve upon their health,” Jordan said.

On a national scale, Jordan said conditions such as hypertension and diabetes affect people of all ages. And while the health department in Warner Robins has an in-house cardiometabolic clinic, she added that expanding those community education efforts — and even sharing knowledge while exercising — are vital.

“Some people receive medication, but part of that [well-being] is physical activity — just the knowledge of what to do to combat some of those illnesses,” Jordan explained. ” … Understanding that walking once a month wouldn’t be enough, we try to get across the idea that this is something that you can incorporate into your entire week.”

For those with mobility issues or maybe would rather not walk with the group, there will be standing cardio, and maybe even some tai chi available, courtesy of a representative from Houston Healthcare – Warner Robins. When the warmer months come around in April or so, Jordan said to expect more fitness options available besides the group walks.

On any given Saturday, if you made your way to one of these events, you would likely come across the prep case manager from the health department, some health educators from the department and at least one health educator from Houston Healthcare – Warner Robins’ EduCare program, among others.

“So, it changes from month to month, but we guarantee that, with whatever health topic we have, we’ll have the health care professional on that health topic,” Jordan said.

Other topics covered during the past events included cholesterol in September, breast cancer education in October, diabetes in November and mental health awareness in December.

For 2023, expect the Walk & Talks to be highlighting some of the following: dental health in February; colorectal cancer education, in a partnership with Houston Healthcare – Warner Robins, in March; public health education in April; more mental health knowledge in May; and men’s health in June.

Attend enough Walk & Talks and you can get some free giveaways, as the health department has utilized a punch card system for determining who receives the prizes.

During the last six months of 2022, the Walk & Talk events took place at Center Park in Centerville. This year, in an effort to reach a different part of the county, the events will take place, at least for some time, at Memorial Park near Gateway Pointe Apartments.

HHJ News