April 7-11 is National Public Health Week, and a good time to take a look at how your local health department is there to help their community to be healthy, safe and prepared.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department has nurses, sanitarians, WIC staff and Threat Preparedness staff that work hard everyday to serve their communities in six counties. Serving Calhoun, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood Counties, the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department is available to help residents and local businesses in their daily lives.
The Environmental Health sanitarians work with community restaurants and their staff to maintain healthy food standards with inspections and food handling classes to help prevent foodborne illnesses. When food vendors attend local fairs and festivals, the sanitarians also check them to maintain strict standards. Sanitarians Inspect local pools and campgrounds to make sure they are properly operated for the community’s health and safety. Homes with septic systems and water wells are also inspected, as well as local businesses such as tattoo/body piercing parlors and tanning beds.
WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Services also includes three more counties outside of the MOVHD, including Jackson, Mason and Gilmer. WIC employees educate the whole family on healthy eating options and provide new parents with breastfeeding guidance and support. Moms and children up to the age of 5 also receive health screenings and referrals when needed, as well as access to healthy foods.
Community Health workers look at each community’s health needs to best serve everyone. Threat Preparedness teams with the local American Red Cross to train community volunteers to better respond to local public health emergencies. The team also connects with area hospitals, community clinics, healthcare providers and emergency response to help prepare them for the next pandemic, bioterrorism or other similar event.
The Clinical department makes sure everyone in all six communities have access to vaccines to better protect them from preventable diseases, such as measles. Other important vaccines made available include Flu, RSV and COVID vaccines during respiratory virus season, out-of-country travel vaccines, and childhood vaccines. Beyond vaccines, clinical workers also can provide sexual health screenings and treatments, as well as treatment and screenings for other diseases such as tuberculosis. With the addition of a nurse practitioner, they can now provide well child exams, hearing and vision screenings, physical exams for work and sports, health screenings for educational enrollment, women’s health services, including Nexplanon insertions and removals, general screenings, health and wellness prevention and educational services, as well as referrals to specialists.
The Oral Health section also routinely gives both adult and child screenings for tooth decay.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department employees continue to serve all six of their counties to help prevent disease and keep their communities healthy and safe.