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Montgomery County proclaims National Public Health Week; county health officer urges action on health equity
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Summary
The council proclaimed April 6–12, 2026 National Public Health Week. County Health Officer Dr. Keisha Davis emphasized health equity, confronting misinformation and integrating mental health into community services.
Montgomery County’s Health and Human Services Committee read a proclamation declaring April 6–12, 2026 as National Public Health Week at the April 7 council session.
Dr. Keisha Davis, the county health officer, urged residents and partners to make public health visible, to prioritize health equity and to counter misinformation. She summarized the county’s focus areas for the year—closing health gaps, confronting the infodemic, and promoting mental‑health supports—and asked attendees to “take action” and support policy that makes healthy choices easier.
Boris Lushniak, dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health, praised the county’s public‑health workforce and framed public health as prevention, promotion and prolonging quality of life. Mental‑health clinician Ella Mae Gray described the hidden impacts of mental illness and called for expanded low‑cost services and integration of mental‑health supports into schools and community spaces.
The proclamation cites county programs including the African American Health Program, the Latino Health Initiative and the Healthy Montgomery 2030 framework, and calls for continued investments in evidence‑based, equity‑centered practice. The council presented the proclamation with committee co‑chairs Laurie Ann Sales, Andrew Friedson and Don Luedke listed as presenters.
No formal action beyond the proclamation was taken; council staff and OMB subsequently moved the meeting to council business.
