Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department to observe National Public Health Week
Bethany Peters, an intake clerk at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, checks registrations. The health department will observe National Public Health Week April 7-11. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
A clinic room at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department where the Clinical Department where people have access to vaccines to protect against preventable diseases. National Public Health Week is April 7-11. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Bethany Peters, an intake clerk at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, checks registrations. The health department will observe National Public Health Week April 7-11. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
A clinic room at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department where the Clinical Department where people have access to vaccines to protect against preventable diseases. National Public Health Week is April 7-11. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
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PARKERSBURG -- National Public Health Week will be celebrated April 7-11, a good time to learn how local health departments help the community remain healthy, according to the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.
The regional health department has nurses, sanitarians, WIC staff and Threat Preparedness staff who serve in six counties – Calhoun, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood – and are available to help residents and businesses.
Environmental Health sanitarians work with restaurants and their staff to maintain healthy food standards with inspections and food handling classes. Food vendors at local fairs and festivals also are checked to maintain standards.
Sanitarians also inspect local pools and campgrounds, homes with septic systems and water wells, tattoo and body piercing parlors and tanning beds.
WIC (Women, Infants and Children) services includes three counties outside of the service district – Jackson, Mason and Gilmer counties. Employees educate the family on healthy eating and provide new parents with breastfeeding guidance and support.
Moms and children up to age 5 also receive health screenings and referrals when needed and access to healthy foods.
Community Health workers evaluate health needs. Threat Preparedness teams with the local American Red Cross to train volunteers to better respond to public health emergencies and works with hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers and emergency response to prepare for the next pandemic, bioterrorism or similar events.
The Clinical Department ensures everyone has access to vaccines to protect against preventable diseases such as measles. Other vaccines that are 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 and 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 routinely screens adults and children for tooth decay.
The health department main office is at 1824 Murdoch Ave., Parkersburg, and is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 304-485-7374 or go to movhd.com, the health department's Facebook page, @MOVHealthDept on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.