If you think you have COVID-19, first of all, don’t panic. There are a lot of experienced medical professionals in our area who can help you. We’ll take you through what you should do, step by step.
Continue ReadingSearch results for: 'public health'
Spend a little time learning more about the County and some of the resources in our 21 departments without leaving your home. If you’ve never been on a digital scavenger hunt, here’s how it goes. Follow the clues to track down info about some of the best of what Mecklenburg County has to offer. How many can you figure out without looking at the key? No peeking!
Continue ReadingWhether you realize it or not, there are many things you probably know about Mecklenburg County government. For starters, you are probably aware that the County is governed by the nine-member Board of County Commissioners. You may also know that Mecklenburg’s day-to-day operations are managed by County Manager Dena R. Diorio. Chances are you are also familiar with a few County services such as Public Health, Department of Social Services or Park and Recreation.
That doesn’t come close to being everything about us, though. There’s so much more that we do and within all of our departments there are so many programs and initiatives that it can be hard to list them all out. But, we do have a few “best kept secrets” that we think you should know!
Continue ReadingHaving a baby is an exciting time – and then the excitement starts to hit your bank account. Those diapers, wipes, and baby food really add up! But, did you know that if you’re on a limited income, there are resources available that can provide some support? The WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Program is a part of our Public Health Department and provides nutritious foods to supplement a healthy diet. Unfortunately, there are some Mecklenburg County residents who could take advantage of these benefits but don’t know it! So, let’s debunk some of the misinformation out there.
Continue ReadingThat’s how Jeanne Williams summed up her 12-year (and counting) career with the County’s Public Health Department. “It’s a commitment – to myself, my colleagues and my community – to improve people’s lives every day.”
Continue ReadingAnother opioid related headline. News of another opioid related death. It almost seems never-ending. And just as my heart was beginning to heal from the devastation I felt after losing my musical icon Prince last April, the latest headline linking an exorbitant amount of Fentanyl to his death, reopened the wound yet again. Another loss due to an opioid addiction.
According to the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department, there were 121 opioid overdose deaths in 2016, that’s up from 61 in the previous year. That’s an alarming figure – all tied to one class of drugs. And while the data is alarming, it’s difficult to comprehend the impact the epidemic is having without examining all the facets of a community that the addiction tends to affect.
When most people think of local government, Pawnee, Indiana is the first image that comes to mind (seriously, who doesn’t love a good episode of Parks and Recreation). You may be surprised to learn that local government work involves a lot less hijinks. During my four and a half years working for Mecklenburg County, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with scores of talented people on issues that really matter to me and my neighbors.
Sure, in college I thought my career would take me across the country for a glamorous public relations job. But, I’m proud of the work I’ve done in my role as a public information officer. Here are just a few reasons why I chose a career with Mecklenburg County.
In case you haven’t heard, we’re in the middle of flu season (it runs October – May each year). According to the State Health Department, the flu is widespread in our state and probably hasn’t peaked yet for the season.
Continue ReadingIf you’ve visited a County building lately, it’s easy to see that employees are feeling festive. Like most places this time of year, our holiday spirit has taken the form of garland and festive lights.
But what you might not see is the way the holiday spirit shapes our involvement in the community – working with our partners to make sure our clients have an extra special holiday, volunteering with local nonprofits, and even collecting items to donate. County employees give “gifts” like this every day, but here is one of the stories behind the gift.
Alice Wirz spends her time Monday through Friday working as a substance abuse coordinator for the County’s Health Department. But, it’s her activities after hours that have captured the attention of many of her clients and coworkers.
by Kim Bayha, Health Policy Coordinator for Tobacco Control, Mecklenburg County Public Health
It’s no secret that tobacco dependence is a wicked addiction. When used as directed, tobacco kills half of its loyal users. Yet, 90 percent of those people start using before they’re 18. The human brain isn’t even fully-formed and able to give informed consent at that age!
There has been incredible progress in the fight against tobacco. Smoking rates have declined from nearly half the population in 1965 to about 17 percent today. But, tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our community. The Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society every November, provides an opportunity to talk about some of the strategies that are most successful for reducing tobacco use and developing a quit plan.