New NASA students working at Mobile County Health Department

Students taking part in NASA's DEVELOP program at the Mobile County Health

Department include, from top row left to right, Shikher Mishra (team leader),

Emmanuel Hitimana, Christopher Castillo, Walt Clark. Front row, from left to

right, Kenny Nguyen, Amber Jones and Charles White.

MOBILE, Alabama -- For more than a decade, small groups of college students have been working in an office at the Mobile County Health Department as part of NASA’s DEVELOP program, an earth sciences initiative created to foster a better understanding of complex environmental issues facing our planet and its people.

DEVELOP charges students with sharing NASA earth science research with local, state and scientific communities in meaningful ways. Projects are often initiated in response to community demands and help students build relevant work skills under the mentorship of NASA science advisers and partner organizations such as the health department and Dr. Bernard Eichold.

About 10 years ago, the Mobile County Health Department’s Dr. Bernard Eichold learned of the earth sciences initiative during a policy conference. He established one of the earliest national DEVELOP locations in Mobile. In 2012, Dr. Eichold was awarded NASA’s highest civilian honor for his work as a mentor to those students and his support of the research they accomplish.

Earlier this year, NASA interns had an opportunity to meet with former NASA astronaut Kay Hire when she visited the Mobile County Health Department.

Summer safety: Never leave children alone in cars

 

 

MOBILE, Alabama -- Each summer there are senseless deaths related to heat exposure in Alabama and beyond. The extremely hot temperatures in summer should remind parents, grandparents and caregivers not to leave children unattended in vehicles.

Young children are at special risk because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adult bodies. Infants and children younger than age 4 are at greatest risk of heat illness and death from heatstroke, health officials said.

Most of the temperature rise occurs in the first 15 to 30 minutes after the vehicle is parked.  Running a car air conditioner then parking a car does not help keep the vehicle cool enough for infants and children to stay in. Even when temperatures are in the low 80’s, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in only 10 minutes.

“Leaving the car windows partially opened does not significantly slow the heating process or decrease the maximum temperature inside,” said Dr. Karen Landers, assistant state health officer in Alabama. “Leaving children unattended also puts them at risk for other dangers. Even if the engine is running and the air conditioner is on, children can experience heatstroke death and injuries. Furthermore, this puts them at risk for abduction or injury if they put the car in motion.”

Children rely on parents and caregivers to keep them safe and comfortable. Make it a part of your routine to do things that remind you that a child is secured in a vehicle. Some parents and caregivers place items such as their cell phone, lunch boxes or briefcases in the back seat to ensure that no child is left behind. Ask your child care provider to contact you if the child is unexpectedly absent from child care. Be sure to lock unoccupied parked vehicles and store your keys out of children’s reach to prevent them from entering a vehicle without your knowledge.

If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 at once. A child in distress should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled to prevent heatstroke, death or injury.

(Editor's note: Information for this blog post was provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health.)

TEEN Center's Fatherhood Initiative hosts successful basketball tournament

 

MOBILE, Ala. -- A basketball tournament was held in June as part of the Fatherhood Initiative, which is funded through Mobile County Health Department's TEEN Center and a national grant. The Fatherhood Initiative aims to give fathers and father figures the skills they need to learn how to reach their full fatherhood potential. When that happens, men stay more connected to their families, something that benefits everyone.

Research shows that parental involvement may affect infant mortality through the mother’s well-being. A single mother with little support or access to vital resources, such as another adult in the home, has a much greater risk of negative outcomes.

The Fatherhood Initiative is offering numerous services and incentives to help alleviate the negative impact of absent fathers on the home and community. They are: GED tutorial services; Vocational certification; On-the-job training; Fatherhood mentoring; Child care classes and services; Transportation and gas vouchers; Gift cards to support increased father-child involvement.

MCHD's Family Health staff promote All-Together Gospel and Jazz Festival on Fox 10

MOBILE, Ala. -- Two Family Health employees were featured on FOX 10's local TV morning show Friday, June 20, 2104, to share information about the All-Together Jazz and Gospel Festival planned for Saturday, June 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Cathedral Square in downtown Mobile.

Fred Phelps, a nurse with Family Health, and Ty Tover, a peer mentor, also with Family Health, talked about the HIV/AIDS crisis in America and what's being done to raises awareness in the community. Phelps is the president of the Mobile AIDS Coalition, which is comprised of the Mobile County Health Department's Family Health division, Franklin Primary Health Center Inc., Missing Link Consumer Group, USA Women’s and Children Specialty Clinic and AIDS Alabama South.

During the interview, Tover and Phelps offered information about how many U.S. residents are affected by the disease each year. It is estimated that more than a million Americans have HIV/AIDS, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. As many as 1 in 5 infected Americans don’t know they have the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Wise Women initiative encourages women to seek heart smart choices

A participant in the Wise Women initiative writes her blood pressure on a

chart after taking the reading during a May 2014 meeting at the Mobile

County Health Department.

 

A group of women at risk for cardiovascular disease gathered recently for a Wise Woman meeting and cooking demonstration at the Mobile County Health Department. The meeting was designed to show the women that healthy food options can also be delicious, organizers said. The group of 20 women sampled strawberries and low-calorie angel food cake, along with fresh fruits and vegetables mixed together for a tasty salad.

The Wise Woman initiative is designed for women age 40 to 64 that are at risk for cardiovascular disease and who have made a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. The patients receive three visits for healthy lifestyle coaching including one with a nutritionist who then gives them a New Leaf cookbook. The program is funded through a grant with the Alabama Department of Public Health and other sponsors.

Participants can attend monthly support groups on various topics. The May meeting at MCHD was a cooking demonstration by Registered Dietitian Dana Herazo of recipes from the New Leaf cookbook. A case manager assigned to each Wise Woman participant makes contact on a regular basis to help support them in their quest to lead a healthy lifestyle.  Those who participated in the May event were given blood pressure monitors, provided through grant funding, to take home for daily blood pressures checks.  

Rachel Myers named Young Dietitian of the Year

Alabama Dietetic Association President Dana Herazo, at left,

is pictured with Mobile’s Rachel Myers, Baldwin County’s

Carrie Montgomery, Birmingham's Rebecca Little and Auburn’s

Natalie Stephens who were all recognized as 2014 Young

Dietitians of the Year with the Alabama Dietetic Association.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Rachel Myers, a Nutritionist with Family Health and the Mobile County Health Department, was recognized recently by the Alabama Dietetic Association as a 2014 Young Dietitian of the Year. MCHD staff member and Alabama Dietetic Association President Dana Herazo presented Myers with the award during a ceremony in Birmingham in March.

An employee since 2006, Myers began working in Family Health’s Adult Clinic as a Nutritionist II in February, 2013. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Nutrition and Food Science in 2006. It was during high school that she became more interested in general health and nutrition.

“My grandmother had diabetes and heart disease,” Myers said. “As I grew older, I learned more about how her poorly managed diet directly affected her health. I wanted to learn more about the science of foods and how foods are used to fuel our bodies so I can educate others and have a career that positively impacts the community.”

Outside of work, Myers also spends time taking part in community theater. Most recently, she performed in Mobile Opera’s Madama Butterfly which ran March 28 and 30 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater.

 

 

Dr. Ron Franks of Mobile named president of Alabama's largest medical association

Dr. Ronald Franks speaks during the Medical Association of the State of Alabama's
14th annual conference on May 23 in Destin, Fla., where he was installed as president.

DESTIN, Fla. – Mobile psychiatrist Ronald D. Franks, MD, was recently installed as the 2014-2015 president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the oldest and largest organization representing physicians and medicine in Alabama.

Dr. Franks is vice president for health sciences at the University of South Alabama where he also serves as a professor of psychiatry. He previously served as vice president for health affairs and dean of medicine at East Tennessee State University and has served as both secretary-treasurer and president elect for MASA. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Franks graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, then served a medical internship at Virginia Mason Hospital before completing a four-year psychiatry residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

He has served on numerous national committees and boards of directors, as well as previously serving as chair of the Liaison Committee of Medical Education, and vice chair of the MCAT Review Committee for the Association of American Medical Colleges. He is on the governing council of the American Medical Association and serves on the Medical Society of Mobile County’s Board of Censors. He is an author and co-author of numerous professional journal articles and book chapters and he is a regular presenter to a variety of professional conferences.

Get well soon: Free wellness screenings planned on Saturdays in June throughout Mobile area

MOBILE, Ala. – Family Health’s Mobile Medical Unit will be at Theodore First United Methodist Church, 5425 Washington Blvd., on Saturday, June 14, to support a Project Faith Community Outreach Program initiative.  

Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Family Health staff members will be available to provide free wellness screenings which include measuring blood pressure and weight checks. Clinical breast exams also will be offered to those who qualify, health officials said.

Other community outreach events are planned throughout the year, with at least two other events already on the books for June. From 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on June 21, Family Health staff will have the mobile medical unit at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 751 Texas St. for an event sponsored by Helping Hands Ministry. From 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on June 28, wellness screenings will be offered at The Grounds, formerly the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds, 1035 Cody Road N., in Mobile.

Opened in 1979, Family Health is a division of the Mobile County Health Department.

Making MCHD beautiful takes pride and passion

Mobile County Health Department employee Dennis Butler

works to clear weeds from a fence on June 12, 2014.

 

MCHD employee Dennis Butler pulls green leaves entwined in a fence that surrounds the agency’s North Bayou Street parking lot on the morning of June 12, 2014.

 

With wet weather soaking the Gulf Coast in recent days, sometimes the weeds can ...grow faster than flowers and plants. And while Seattle may get all the attention on the west coast for prolonged precipitation, Mobile typically has among the highest rainfall totals in the country every year. Take that Great Northwest!

 

About MCHD: Since 1816, the Mobile County Health Department and its staff have worked to promote and protect the health of those who live and work in Mobile County.  For more than a decade, MCHD has been continuously accredited by the Joint Commission and was the first public health agency in Alabama with this designation. More than 40,000 patients visited the Mobile County Health Department’s nine primary care sites, which are now known as Family Health, in 2013.

 

Dramatic rise in pertussis cases "whooping cough" noted in Mobile County

MOBILE, Ala. – The Mobile County Health Department has noted an alarming rise in the number of pertussis cases in the area in recent weeks. Also known as whooping cough, pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease marked by uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe.

Between May 25, 2014 and June 11, 2014, Mobile County recorded approximately 18 pertussis cases. In 2013, just eight confirmed and probable cases were reported in Mobile County. Of the 18 cases reported so far in 2014, 10 have been confirmed, health officials said. There are multiple ongoing investigations of other pertussis cases not included in the 18 reported so far, health officials said.

“We urge those who have not been immunized against pertussis, especially women who are pregnant, to do so,” said Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department. “Reducing the risk among new mothers and young infants is vital.”

Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After a coughing fit, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which can result in a "whooping" sound. The best way to protect against pertussis is immunization.

Dr. Paola Maurtua-Neumann, a pediatrician with the University of South Alabama Children’s Medical Center, along with her staff, has diagnosed a majority of the cases so far. “The main thing is to have a high level of awareness,” Maurtua-Neumann said. “There are many cases in the community and it’s a very highly contagious disease that’s preventable by vaccination. Physicians should also think about the possibility of pertussis because of the outbreak.”

Once a pertussis case has been confirmed, Maurtua-Neumann said, all family members residing with the person in question should receive treatment with antibiotics regardless of their immunization status: “Everyone who comes in contact with that person needs to receive treatment and by assessed for immunity.”

Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a Tdap vaccination became mandatory for students age 11 and older entering the sixth grade in Alabama. The Tdap shot protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Vaccinations are available on weekdays at MCHD’s downtown location, 251 North Bayou St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All required or recommended vaccinations are free or low-cost based on eligibility. Appointments are recommended, but not required. Parents and caregivers must bring their children’s immunizations records, Social Security cards and Medicaid cards or other insurance verification. Immunizations by appointment are available at all Family Health locations throughout Mobile. To schedule an appointment, call 251-690-8889.

 

Bugs are biting: MCHD launches mosquito spraying program in Mobile County

Tips for eliminate mosquito breeding sites include emptying

all water from old tires, cans, jars, buckets, drums, plastic

wading pools, boats, tarps, toys and other containers in your yard.

MOBILE, Ala. – The mosquitoes are biting so the little white trucks are up and running. Mobile County Health Department’s Vector Control Division recently began its seasonal mosquito control program, said Jerry Folse, who oversees the initiative. MCHD's fleet of trucks will conduct sprays primarily in early evening hours, typically from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., unless otherwise warranted, Folse said, throughout the warm summer months. Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and dawn.

Vector Control workers drive as many as 50 unique routes across the county, Folse said, noting that later this summer, a department-owned airplane will be used to cover sites not accessible by trucks, primarily in coastal areas. Mobile County includes some 1,200 square miles.

The risk of mosquito-borne viruses is highest from August through the fall, according to Dr. Bernard Eichold II, health officer for the Mobile County Health Department. Mosquitoes can spread diseases, including West Nile virus, by feeding on the blood of infected birds, then biting another host, such as a human.The vehicles used for spray operations dispense low volumes of insecticides through variable flow technology at vehicle speeds up to 20 mph. The insecticides are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in mosquito control. Health officials ask that people not approach spray trucks while they are operating.

Those engaged in beekeeping activities and those who are allergic to insecticides used for mosquito control, and have not been recently contacted by the MCHD, should notify the agency's Vector Control Division at 251-690-8124.

Tips for keeping mosquitoes away:

Eliminate breeding sites by emptying all water from old tires, cans, jars, buckets, drums, plastic wading pools, boats, tarps, toys and other containers.

Because mosquitoes are more active at dusk and dawn, limit outdoor activities at those times.

· Use a good repellent on exposed areas. Some of the most reliable repellants contain the chemical DEET. Use it according to label directions.
· Wearing light-colored and loose fitting long sleeve shirts and long pants used with a mosquito repellent helps to limit mosquito bites.

More than 2,300 dogs, cats and ferrets received rabies vaccines from MCHD weekend clinics



The Mobile County Health Department's veterinarian gave more than 2,300

rabies shots to local pets during weekend clinics between June 2013 and May 2014.

MOBILE, Ala. – Every month of the year the Mobile County Health Department plans a series of Saturday rabies clinics throughout the community so residents have a low-cost option for staying up-to-date on required vaccinations for their dogs, cats and ferrets. Thousands of pets come to the weekend clinics with their owners to take advantage of the service. In June, the rabies clinics will be held at the following locations:

1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., June 14, Pet Supplies Plus, 803 Hillcrest Road, Mobile
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., June 21, City of Mobile Animal Shelter, 855 Owens St.
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., June 28, City of Mobile Animal Shelter, 855 Owens St.

This month, the cost of the vaccine is $10 per pet at the Animal Shelter and $8 per pet at Pet Supplies Plus. Only cash is accepted, health officials said.

New Mobile County numbers: Between June 2013 and May 2014, 2,331 cats, dogs and ferrets were vaccinated by the Mobile County Health Department’s veterinarian during weekend events, records indicate. The state of Alabama tasks local Health Department’s with providing rabies vaccinations to pet owners throughout the year.

Rabies and its symptoms: Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to man and is fatal once symptoms appear. Symptoms of rabies include unusual behavior, irritability, headache, fever, inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma, and, finally, death. All warm-blooded mammals, including man, are susceptible to rabies.

Preventing the spread of rabies: Exposure to rabies may be minimized by eliminating all stray cats and dogs; having pet dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated; staying away from wild animals, especially those acting abnormally; and not keeping exotic or wild animals as pets, health officials said.

Mobile students featured in MCHD billboards urging parents to talk to kids about sex

Photo illustration of a billboard by MCHD's TEEN Center featuring members
of the Youth Leadership Team in Mobile. The campaign began in June, 2014.
 

MOBILE, Ala. – Five local students are being featured in a series of billboards going up around town as the Mobile County Health Department works to lower the teen pregnancy rate along the Gulf Coast. The students are Kierstyn Johnson of LeFlore High School, Maya Harris of Baker High School, Gregory Robertson, Robert Henderson of LeFlore High School and Jaquan Battles of Baker High School.

Thousands of local motorists are reading an important message each day on a popular digital billboard as they drive east bound down Government Street near the loop. The featured students take part in the TEEN Center’s Youth Leadership Team and stand next to a message that encourages residents to “Think About It.”

“If they are talking to your kids about sex, so should you” reads part of the message. The website for the TEEN Center, Thinkteen.org, also is featured at the bottom of the image. The idea behind the outdoor advertising, which was paid for with grant funding, is to raise awareness in the community that young teenagers are talking about and having sex more often than their parents and guardians may ever suspect.

Studies show that the children of parents who talk to them about the risks of sexual activity at a young age are less likely to engage in such activity during high school years, health officials said. Visit ThinkTeen.org for information on ways to talk to your chidren about the harmful effects of risky behaviors.

 

Another digital billboard with the same image and message is located at Interstate I-65 South and is visible to motorists heading south out of Prichard heading toward Mobile across from the Bright Spot. Other print billboards are scheduled to be up on June 9 at St. Stephens Road north of Gloria Street and on York Drive, across from Northside Check Exchange in Toulminville and on Dauphin Island Parkway north of Robinhood Drive.

 

 

 

MCHD represented at career fair and business expo





Peggy Howat, director of Human Resources for the Mobile County Health
Department, speaks with a participant during a recent career fair held in Mobile.

MOBILE, Ala. – Members of the Mobile County Health Department’s Human Resources Division recently shared information with the job-seeking public about a number of opportunities for employment at Alabama’s oldest public health agency.

Cynthia Smith and HR Director Peggy Howat participated in the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC) 16^thannual Business Expo and Job Fair on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The job fair was held in Expo Hall in downtown Mobile. Organizers with the regional planning commission estimated that at least 3,000 people attended.