Montgomery County for Public Health (MCPH) is a student-run organization with high school students of over half of all Montgomery County Public School students. The organization was founded by two juniors at Richard Montgomery High School, Elissa Ysabel and Aliza, who were inspired to take action and educate others about various health issues after personal experiences with close family members and friends. Starting out as a high school club before COVID-19, MCPH has now expanded to all of Montgomery County, with over 700 Instagram (@mocoforpublichealth) followers and active engagement from members.
The goal of MoCo for Public Health is to “educate, prevent, and raise awareness about public health issues around the world.” Through various publications such as articles, videos, presentations and informational posts on Instagram and its website, MCPH has been able to highlight a multitude of health issues, including: diabetes, breast cancer, cardiac arrest, and the opioid crisis. Additionally, by utilizing virtual platforms, MCPH has held many webinars featuring health professionals to talk about their areas of expertise. Participants in the webinars were given the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the keynote speakers throughout the call. Aside from spreading awareness and educating the public about health issues, MCPH also aims to fundraise for important causes, raising over $300 for breast cancer research in October of 2020.
As a new and growing organization, MoCo for Public Health has many goals set for the future. In addition to continuing to educate the public about public health issues, once it is safe to do so, MCPH hopes to host in-person workshops with engaging activities. The organization is also exploring teaching students and the community vital hands-on skills, such as Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid. Finally, MCPH hopes to hold contests relating to public health issues to involve the community as a whole, sparking people’s interest in public health and its importance.
With an ambitious mission statement and incredible success thus far, MoCo for Public Health is sure to grow and expand, spreading awareness about public health issues to the community for years to come. To get involved, lookout for applications on its website in the following years, sign up for MCPH’s mailing list and follow the organization’s social media accounts.
Article by Anna Li of Poolesville High School
Photo Courtesy of Montgomery/Dayton County Public Health Organization