Miller County Health Department will be closed January 4

Southwest Georgia Public Health District's 14 county health departments - including the facility in Colquitt - will be closed Friday, Jan. 4 to allow employees to participate in an annual wellness event that promotes health in the workplace.

"Our staff will be taking part in the 2008 kick-off of Hooked on Health, a districtwide campaign introduced in January 2006," said Miller County Health Department County Nurse Alida Ward. "Hooked on Health focuses on smoking cessation, stress reduction, better nutrition and physical activity."

The Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park will once again serve as the host facility for Hooked on Health's daylong kickoff activities, said District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

The agenda includes recognition of those who achieved wellness goals during 2007; relaxation programs; screenings; educational programs and fitness activities such as line dancing, team sports and work out sessions. "This year we are also offering workshops on financial fitness and personal safety," Grant said.

Further, the district aims to roll out the program out to the public in 2008, said Grant. "We are very excited about bringing Hooked on Health to the residents of Miller County and surrounding areas.

Community participants will be able to set goals, chart their progress and record data through an interactive program on our website," she said. "We recognize that not everyone in every county may have Internet access, so Southwest District Public Health is also giving computers that can be used to participate in Hooked on Health to county libraries. You'll be hearing more about that soon."

Hooked on Health has been well received by the district's nearly 400 employees, Grant said. "The majority now engages in regular wellness activities. Participants have been successful in losing weight, stopping smoking and identifying potentially dangerous health conditions like diabetes," she said.

For more information on Hooked on Health, go to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth. org.