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As the Grand Island City Council voted on Monday to enact a citywide smoking ban, Gov. Dave Heineman signed a proclamation declaring March as Wellness Month in Nebraska.
During Wellness Month, Heineman said, he will emphasize wellness at school, work, home and in communities.
Meanwhile, in Grand Island, the smoking ban will go into effect on June 1. That's a full year in advance of a statewide smoking ban.
When Heineman signed LB395, the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act, last month, he said he weighed concerns of business owners as well as the health concerns and the rights of the public to clean indoor air.
"The public health concern is a critical one, and that is why I signed LB395," he said.
In signing the Wellness Month proclamation, Heineman said it's the goal of his administration to create a culture of wellness across the state.
"By changing our mindset, we can surround Nebraskans with wellness and improve our already good quality of life," Heineman said.
"This applies to everyone, young and old."
Dr. Joann Schaefer, Nebraska's chief medical officer, accompanied Heineman at the signing ceremony in Lincoln. Schaefer said it's important that children are surrounded with a focus on wellness at school and that adults also have a healthy work environment.
She added that reminding folks of the importance of choices they make at home is the cornerstone to achieving better health in Nebraska.
"Wellness emphasizes four components: prevention, active lifestyles, good nutrition and stress management," Schaefer said.
During the Wellness Month signing ceremony, Heineman cited LB884, introduced by state Sen. Tim Gay of Papillion. It would give the administration more flexibility to design an innovative and dynamic wellness component to the state employees' health insurance program.
Heineman also encouraged state employee participation in the N-Lighten Nebraska campaign. N-Lighten Nebraska encourages adults and children to participate in wellness activities and provides a way for individuals to track progress toward goals.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Schaefer cited the need for more colon cancer screenings as a prime example of prevention. Nebraska has one of the lowest colon cancer screening rates in the country.
Schaefer said that stress management programs are available to encourage exercise, achieve better sleep and support wellness, particularly for those with chronic health concerns.
"Opportunities for physical activity are better than ever and provide significant cardiovascular and lung benefits while improving upper body movement and strength," she said.
Information about wellness programs can be found online at the Department of Health and Human Services Web site, www.dhhs.ne.gov/hew/hewindex.htm
Another part of Wellness Month is providing information about smoking. Information posted on the HHS Web site indicates that:
More than 2,350 Nebraskans die each year from smoking.
The annual cost of lost productivity due to tobacco use was $499 million in Nebraska.
97.3 percent of Nebraskans agree that inhaling smoke from a parent's cigarette harms babies and children.
Every year, Nebraska spends $605 per person for smoking-related medical expenses and lost productivity.
Annual smoking-related medical costs in Nebraska are estimated at $537 million.
Annual costs to Medicaid for smoking-related illnesses and diseases is estimated at $134 million annually.
The number of kids now under 18 who will likely die early from smoking (if current trends continue) is estimated at 36,000.
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