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Public Health Week Observed by Hancock County Health Department April 6 - April 12, 2009
The Hancock County Health Department is joining the State of West Virginia and the Nation in celebrating Public Health Week during the week of April 6 through April 12, 2009. Public Health Week was established in West Virginia in 1995 for the purpose of increasing the awareness and understanding of the many ways Public Health impacts peoples’ lives. The following statements will show just how the local health department does just that:
- When attendance at County schools is better because less students are absent due to having chicken pox, measles, or mumps because ethey were properly immunized at the Hancock County Health Department.
-When a homeowner learns that the radon level in his home was above the 4pCi/L safety level after testing his home by using a FREE RADON TEST KIT that he obtained from the Hancock County Health Department: advice, consultation and methods of correction of the problem can also be obtained from the Hancock County Health Department.
- When a flood occurs, residents obtain information regarding their tetanus shot history and/or help in determining if they need to get a tetanus shot booster: they know that they can call or visit the Hancock County Health Department.
-When people whose homes or businesses are affected by flood waters need to know the proper clean-up and disposal methods for household goods or equipment: they can obtain the information from the Hancock County Health Department.
-When the threat of bioterrorism is present, residents know that all information is made available to the public including preparation, protection and/or treatment by the Hancock County Health department.
-When a high school senior who received his "school shots" at the health department needs his immunization records to include with his college application , he can obtain his immunization records at the Hancock County Health Department.
-When a person can drink a glass of water from his faucet knowing that the water is safe to drink because the Hancock County Health Department monitors it on a regular basis.
-When those people who live within ten miles of the Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant know tha in case of a nuclear leak they have potassium iodide (KI) pills in their possession that they received at a clinic provided by the Hancock County Health Department. Those who do not have the pills, may obtain them at the Health Department so they can be prepared.
-When a person is in need of Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV testing, he or she may call the Hancock County Health Department to schedule confidential testing.
-When a mother can order hot lunch for her school-aged children nowing that the food is prepared in a sanitary manner and is safe to eat because the Food Service staff employed by Hancock County Schools have attended Food Handler Training provided by the Hancock County Health Department and conscientiously apply safe food handling methods.
-When a situation occurs that requires the public to be knowlegeable about a possible isolation occurrence, such as smallpox, the public will be informed via community lectures and/or through the distribution of printed information by the staff of the Hancock County Health Department.
-When a resident needs to get his or her annual flu shot he or she knows that the shots are available at the Hancock County Health department.
-When a high school or college student needs to know what services are provided by the WV Health Deparatments for a term paper or report, he or she contacts the Hancock County Health Departament.
-When a Boy Scout wants to earn his Public Health Merit Badge, he calls the Hancock County Health Department.
-When a person swims in a pool that is open to the public, that person knows that the pool water is safe because the Hancock County Health Department monitors swimming pool water quality.
-When a woman is in need of family planning services, including annual PAP tests, Pelvic Exams and Clinical Breast Exams, and meets the income guidelines, she calls the Hancock County Health Department and makes an appointment for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.
-When a woman between the ages of 25 and 64 needs her annual PAP smear or mammogram, and does not need family planning services, she can contact the Hancock County Health Department to find out if she meets age and income guidelines to receive these services FREE.
-When a resident is planning to build a new home in an area that is not served by public sewer lines, obtain information about Certified Septic Tank Installers and obtain information regarding the proper procedure to follow to obtain a permit to install a sewage disposal system, he calls the Hancock County Health Department.
-When an adult, (as well as a child) is in need of immunizations, such as Meningitis, Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Varicella, and MMR whether for advancing his or her education or as a requirement for employment, he knows that these vaccines are available, for a fee, at the Hancock County Health Department.
-When a resident is planning a trip outside of the United States, he knows that he can call the Hancock County Health Department for information and vaccines.
-When public safety and wellness is an issue, the staff of the Hancock County Health Department is available twenty-four hours a day to provide planning, follow-up protection, advice, and/or treatment.
As evidenced by the above list of services, the health department impacts the lives of Hancock County residents every day in many ways - ways that some may not think about. Anna Surray, MD is the County Health OFficer and the department is governed by the Hancock County Board of Health. THose currently serving on the Hancock County Board of Health are: Ed Huff, Chariman, Wilma Boring, John Good, Monty Grimes, and Rick Smith.
Everyday operations of the Hancock County Health Department are overseen by Administrator Jackie Huff.
Maintenance of public health records is often-times overlooked, yet a most important function that is provided by the Hancock County Health Department. Office Assistant II, Shirlee Posovich can provide "shot records" to that college-bound high school senior or to a parent of the five-year-old starting kindergarten if the shots were given by the staff of the Hancock County Health Department nurses. Shirlee, assisted by part-time Office Assistant, Carolyne Baker also schedules family planning, confidentail Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV testing and PAP smear appointments and takes food handler school reservations. They also funnel all incoming calls to the appropriate Hancock County Health Department staff member. Both of these ladies work in a professional yet very personal manner and are eager to help anyone who visits and/or phones the health department.
Devastating acts, such as the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, have left many concerned about the possibility of future incidents in the United States and their potential impact. Jackie Huff is the Threat Preparedness Coordinator at the Hancock County Health Department. She has been working hard with the staff to strengthen the capabilities of the health department to respond to the threats whether they are naturally occurring, man made, or an act of terrorism. Community awareness of the county health departments’ role in threat preparedness is essential to the planning, trainng, response and recovery efforts should an incident occur.
The professional medical staff of the Hancock County Health Department includes full-time employee Michelle Truax, RN; and part-time employees Sophie Eastham, RN; Diana Vuiller, RN; and Cindy Webster, RN. These dedicated nurses provide many public health nursing services on a regular monthly schedule. All of those taking advantage ofthese medical services know that the services are confidential. Some of these services and clinics are: free childhood immunizations; adult immunizations; influenza and pneumonia shots; free tuberculosis screening; free family planning/birth control services; free and confidential sexually transmitted disease/HIV testing; free breast and cervical cancer screening; Right From The Start Program for expectant mothers and infants up to 1 year of age who qualify; free pregnancy testing; free hypertension (blood pressure) testing clinics; and epidemiology and community health promotion activities.
Environmental inspections, monitoring, and education are a large part of a public health department’s environmental function. Sanitarians Jolene Zuros, RS,MS, Sam Greco, MA, and part-time SIT Carolyne Baker provide quality consultations, effective inspections of a variety of facilities, timely enforcement if required, and consistent educational opportunities to Hancock County residents. Their knowledge of such topics as food safety, public and private water supply treatment, effective iindividual sewage disposal methods, child care center and food service establishment planning and inspections as well as being involved in threat preparedness planning efforts make these environmental health professionals valuable resources in the community.
Below is a schedule of Public Health Services and events that will be provided at the Hancock County Health Department during PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK:
Monday, April 6
Family Planning Counseling and pill re-supply
By appointment only
Wednesday, April 8
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Adult and Childhood Immunizations & TB screening
No appointment necessary
5:00 PM Hancock County Board of Health Meeting
Thursday, April 9
9:00 - Noon Family Planning Counseling and pill re-supply
By appointment only
11:00 AM Food Handler Class at Swaney Library
New Cumberland
3:00 PM Food Handler Class at Swaney Library
New Cumberland
Condoms are available free of charge at the Hancock County Health Department during regular operating hours.
Free Radon test kits may be obtained during regular operating hours by stopping in at the health department.
The Hancock County Health Department is located in New Cumberland, WV next to the Hancock County Court House. Operating hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For additional information regarding the programs mentioned above or to learn more about the programs that are available at YOUR HANCOCK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, please call 304-564-3343 or log onto the Hancock County Health Department’s website at
http://www.HancockCountyHealtlhDeparatment.com. |
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