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WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is delivering on a commitment made last year at a White House conference on hunger and nutrition with the launch of a national public education campaign aimed at helping Americans reduce risks of diet-related conditions.
Nourish My Health was introduced last month as a collaborative campaign involving NACDS and health organizations including the American Heart Association and the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
The integrated campaign was conceived and developed as a commitment by NACDS to the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health and the associated national strategy to end hunger, improve nutrition and reduce diet-related diseases.
Nourish My Health will seek to reach millions of Americans, including those who live in rural areas and/or communities that are underserved, focusing on regions with disproportionate risk of diet-related diseases. The campaign will amplify the importance of preventive screenings and raise awareness of the power of nutritious food as a part of lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes.
“Pharmacies have become the face of neighborhood health and wellness, as more than 90% of Americans live within five miles of a retail pharmacy,” said Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of NACDS. “We are honored to work alongside our campaign collaborators to build healthy communities. This is part of an NACDS health and wellness innovation platform that can be viewed as ‘pharmacy plus’ — leveraging the total store for the total person. “
Anderson cited a recent Morning Consult poll commissioned by NACDS that found more than 80% of Americans support a role for pharmacists in helping patients understand their nutritional choices.
The campaign website, NourishMyHealth.org, will serve as the campaign hub for information and resources from the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. It will also feature the Healthy Food Guide and a five-question food and nutrition security survey from the Food is Medicine Institute through a digital platform hosted by Higi, a health engagement company.
The campaign aims to help consumers embrace the protective health benefits of nutritious food in reducing the risk of conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and many types of cancer, according to NACDS and its partners.
“A healthy diet can reduce the risk of several types of cancer and improve overall quality of life,” said Laura Makaroff, senior vice president of cancer prevention at the American Cancer Society.
So far more than 10 chain pharmacy companies plan to participate in the effort at selected locations through the end of the year, leveraging scheduled wellness events, immunization clinics and activities related to American Diabetes Month in November.
