~ Public health center offers services as part of National Public Health Week

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is participating in National Public Health Week this week by hosting a variety of special health services and programs.

Each service or program was designed to reach as many people as possible within the community in a short time frame, said Jane Wernsman, executive director of the public health center. They also align with the public health center's health goals and extend its outreach beyond regularly scheduled programs and activities.

"I think they show the variety of services that our department is involved in," Wernsman said.

The week's events began with a focus on environmental public health service. Citizens of Cape Girardeau County could have the water in private wells tested at no cost Monday by environmental public health specialists. The service also is offered today.

John Janssen, member of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center Board of Trustees, said checking wells was another way the center was working to meet all of the county's health needs.

"The administration is very sincere about serving Cape Girardeau County and doing all they can do," Janssen said. "Part of that is going out and doing things like checking wells, which affects a lot of people."

Natalie Govreau, a Public Helath Specialist with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, takes a sample of well water for bacteria testing from a frost free hydrant Monday from a home in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

Anyone interested in having a well tested may make an appointment by calling environmental health services at 335-7846, extension 128.

Other events hosted during the week will focus on more specific community health issues, like emergency preparedness, sun safety and smoking dangers.

The public health center will have an emergency and disaster preparedness display on Wednesday including various types of emergency kits and booklets that teach families and individuals how to make their own kits.

The center will set up another display Thursday, this time on sun safety, an issue Wernsman said will become more prevalent as summer approaches.

"Each of these public health issues have different levels of importance, depending on the time of year or what individuals they affect," she said. "But it's important that we really give each issue the focus it deserves."

The final events hosted by the public health center will be a Freedom From Smoking program and a walk-in clinic that will provide tetanus and pertussis immunizations, both held Friday.

Wernsman said these events hold special significance for the public health center because they address health issues of national and local priority.

"There's a concern about the rising number of individuals that smoke, especially pregnant women," Wernsman said. "Hopefully, with this program, we are beginning to address this issue."

The public health center will team up with Saint Francis Medical Center and the American Lung Association to provide the program. Wernsman said working with other health organizations to address community health issues was not only a win for the community, but for the public health center, as well.

Janssen said the walk-in clinic also was a big achievement for the community and public health center.

"In our regular duties, we hold events or inspections to protect the greatest number of people we can," he said. "The same goes for the immunizations. We give out as many as are available, and I feel that that's very important."

Wernsman said pertussis, also known as "whooping cough," is often considered to be an issue primarily effecting children, but cases in adults have been increasing nationwide. With the clinic, she said, the public health center has the opportunity to help many individuals with pertussis vaccinations.

The week's events are a reflection of how progressive the public health center has become, said Wernsman, who also noted how fortunate the community is to have such a dependable resource.

"We have a really solid health center that will lead us into the future," Wernsman said. "There are so many unknowns in the health-care world now, so it's nice to know your public health center is always there."

For more information about National Health Week or the public health center events, contact the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center at 335-7846.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

1121 Linden St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.