People are the most valuable asset at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) because they are the heart and soul of patient care, and the conduit for providing healthy options through preventive medical care and education.

In honor of Preventive Health Month during August, NMCP is spreading the healthy word.

"Preventive medicine focuses on the health of operational forces and the support of past, present and future service members and their families," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Rose, senior preventive medicine technician. "The major goal is to protect, promote and maintain well-being, and to prevent disease, disability, and death."

By remaining proactive about health care through preventive health, illness can be avoided and well-being can be significantly improved. Also, an added benefit is a reduction in health care costs.

"Preventive health is important all year," said Rose. "The focus should be on physical health, resilience and healthy behavior choices every day, because doing so comes with a great deal of benefits."

"People forget to remain proactive about their health; it's not just older people, its younger people as well," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Miriam Harsha, wellness corpsman. "Often times we come across younger people experiencing health problems because they were not practicing preventive health."

In an effort to promote Preventive Health Month and raise awareness on the topic, NMCP has set up informational boards and stands throughout the hospital. Each has its own theme and is beneficial to everyone. A perfect example is the hand-hygiene stand.

"Hand hygiene is extremely important," Harsha said. "By practicing proper hand hygiene, the transfer of various germs and diseases can be prevented. Regular hand washing and sanitizing is especially important in the hospital."

Additionally, educational programs to assist people with preventive health are offered like ShipShape, which is an eight-week, weight-management program with a focus on nutrition, physical activity, and forming habits for a healthier life; along with Right Weigh and Step Well programs which also promote healthy lifestyle choices.

Along with the weight-control programs, the NMCP Wellness Department offers information and assistance with active living, tobacco cessation, injury and violence-free living, drug abuse and excessive alcohol use and prevention, reproductive and sexual health, and psychological and emotional well-being.

Although the Preventive Health Month is coming to an end, it is never too late to begin making health improvements, and to maintain them throughout the year with help from NMCP.

For more information on preventive health and medicine, visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/health-promotion/Pages/hp-toolbox-august.aspx.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit www.navy.mil/.