{"id":17854,"date":"2026-03-31T20:10:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T00:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=17854"},"modified":"2026-03-31T20:13:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T00:13:52","slug":"17854-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/17854-2\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<p>March 31, 2026<br \/>\n<strong>Media Contact: <\/strong>Dwight Richards, Population Health Manager,<br \/>\n757-514-4740, Dwight.Richards@vdh.virginia.gov.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Western Tidewater Health District to Celebrate National Public Health Week with Series of Community Events<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>SUFFOLK, Va. \u2013 The Western Tidewater Health District (WTHD) will sponsor a series of activities April 6\u201310, 2026, in recognition of National Public Health Week. This annual observance highlights the achievements of public health, addresses current challenges, and looks ahead to opportunities for building a healthier future for all.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s National Public Health Week theme, \u201cReady. Set. Action!\u201d, reflects the importance of taking action to improve health outcomes for all.<\/p>\n<p>We invite the media to join us for the health leaders\u2019 discussion on Monday, April 6, 2026, 9 a.m. \u2013 Noon, where health systems and local health leaders will talk about the needs, challenges, and opportunities to improve health across the district.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBetter health happens when patients, healthcare providers, and public health professionals work together and understand what the community needs and the challenges individuals face.,\u201d said District Health Director Angela Tillery. \u201cWhen we recognize these needs and use our resources we can reduce illness, expand access to care, and build healthier, stronger communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The week\u2019s events include:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Monday, April 6 \u2013 Health and Peacebuilding<br \/>\n<\/strong>A panel discussion focused on community healthcare needs, challenges, and opportunities.<br \/>\nLocation: 135 Hall Avenue, 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Floor, Suffolk<br \/>\nTime: 9 a.m. \u2013 Noon<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuesday, April 7 \u2013 Terrorism Awareness &amp; Stop the Bleed Trainings<\/strong><br \/>\nEach participant will gain knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to bleeding emergencies. \u00a0Everyone will receive a bleeding control kit to support immediate emergency response efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Location:\u00a0 Southampton Health Department, 26022 Administration Center Drive, Courtland<br \/>\nTime: 10 a.m.<br \/>\nLocation: Isle of Wight Health Department, 919 S. Church Street, Smithfield<br \/>\nTime: 10 a.m.<br \/>\nLocation: Franklin City Health Department, 200 Fairview Drive, Franklin<br \/>\nTime: 1 p.m.<br \/>\nLocation: Suffolk Health Department, 135 Hall Avenue, Suffolk<br \/>\nTime: 2 p.m.<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday, April 8 \u2013 Free STI\/HIV Testing<\/strong><br \/>\nFree walk-in STI\/HIV testing will be available at all Western Tidewater Health District clinics, including Suffolk Health Department, Franklin Health Department, Isle of Wight Health Department, and Southampton Health Department. ID cards required at registration.<br \/>\nTime: 8:30 a.m. \u2013 4 p.m.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thursday, April 9 \u2013 Mental Health Marketplace<br \/>\n<\/strong>In collaboration with Western Tidewater Community Services Board, the health district will host a Mental Health Marketplace that includes an \u201cEnd the Stigma\u201d interactive, Suicide Prevention, and other informational tables focused on mental health awareness and strengthening community connections.<br \/>\nLocation: 135 Hall Avenue, Suffolk, VA\u00a0 23434<br \/>\nTime: 10 a.m. \u2013 3 p.m.<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Friday, April 9 \u2013 Building an Inclusive Health Workforce<\/strong><br \/>\nWTHD will focus on staff development initiatives that empower employees to effectively advocate for and support clients, as well as community-based organizations, in their efforts to improve health outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>By working together, we can ensure that everyone benefits from stronger, healthier communities. For more information about these events, please contact the Western Tidewater Health District at 757-514-4740<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>###<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>March 31, 2026 Media Contact: Dwight Richards, Population Health Manager, 757-514-4740, Dwight.Richards@vdh.virginia.gov. Western Tidewater Health District to Celebrate National Public Health Week with Series of Community Events SUFFOLK, Va. \u2013 The Western Tidewater Health District (WTHD) will sponsor a series of activities April 6\u201310, 2026, in recognition of National Public Health Week. This annual observance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":0,"parent":16853,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[988,1620,709,893,822,1621,1045],"class_list":["post-17854","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-angela-tillery-health-director","tag-hiv-testing","tag-mental-health","tag-national-public-health-week","tag-stop-the-bleed","tag-terrorism-awareness","tag-western-tidewater-health-district"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>- Newsroom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/17854-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"- Newsroom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"March 31, 2026 Media Contact: Dwight Richards, Population Health Manager, 757-514-4740, Dwight.Richards@vdh.virginia.gov. Western Tidewater Health District to Celebrate National Public Health Week with Series of Community Events SUFFOLK, Va. \u2013 The Western Tidewater Health District (WTHD) will sponsor a series of activities April 6\u201310, 2026, in recognition of National Public Health Week. 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Western Tidewater Health District to Celebrate National Public Health Week with Series of Community Events SUFFOLK, Va. \u2013 The Western Tidewater Health District (WTHD) will sponsor a series of activities April 6\u201310, 2026, in recognition of National Public Health Week. 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