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PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
September 19, 2018

Shereef Elnahal
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Health Recognizes Rural Health Weeks, Sept. 16-30

Connecting Communities and Developing Networks

To highlight the ongoing efforts and collaborations to address health challenges in rural communities and increase awareness of rural health-related issues, the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Health is celebrating Rural Health Weeks with events throughout the state.

Rural Health Weeks is a two-week, statewide event from Sept. 16-30. This year’s theme is Connecting Communities and Developing Networks.

will include free health screenings, flu clinics, information sessions on lead prevention, diabetes self-management and emergency preparedness, as well as food and entertainment for families.

South Jersey Family Medical Centers will hold a series of chronicling the lives and contributions of local farmworkers in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties.

“More than 100 municipalities in ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ are considered rural and about nine percent of our more than 8 million residents live in rural areas,” Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal Said. “Although rural areas represent a relatively small portion of residents, they experience some of the worst health outcomes in the state including higher rates of heart disease, cancer and alcohol use." Rural residents also have a higher likelihood of ending their lives by suicides.

The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Office of Rural Health is a statewide resource for rural health concerns. It partners with the Rural Health Advisory Committee and other programs to leverage resources and expand collaborative partnerships locally, statewide and nationally.

In 2016, the office collaborated with the Rutgers School of Social Work to develop the to identify the health and social concerns, issues and recommendations for people who live in rural areas.

The Department convened its 2nd annual Rural Health Symposium earlier this year bringing together more than 200 rural health practitioners representing Federally Qualified Health Centers, clinics, private practices, hospitals, public health professionals, social workers, policy makers, advocates and local health workers.

Click to learn more about the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ State Office of Rural Health.

Follow ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Health Commissioner Elnahal on .

Follow the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Health on @njdeptofhealth, /njdeptofhealth, @njdeptofhealth, and @njdoh.