Mobile County Health Department staff wear blue for National Autism Awareness Day April 2

Dozens of Mobile County Health Department and Family Health staff members, across all nine clniical sites, wore blue April 2, 2015, in recognition of National Autism Awareness Day.

 

 

 

Up to eight weeks of free help to quit smoking offered through state program

The Alabama Tobacco Quitline is celebrating 10 years of helping state residents quit tobacco use by offering up to eight weeks of nicotine replacement therapy patches (NRT) to eligible callers, while supplies last.

Alabama maintains one of the highest rates in the nation for those who light up. Some 21.5 percent of Alabama adults are smokers, according to the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

The Quitline is a toll-free telephone coaching program that helps tobacco users quit with informational materials, a quit plan, coaching and NRT, all at no cost. Previously, the Quitline offered two weeks of NRT to eligible callers.
 
“The additional weeks of NRT should help more people quit,” said Karen Atkinson, Quitline manager. “Research shows that the combination of coaching and NRT can double the chances of a tobacco user quitting and staying quit.”

Since it began April 1, 2005, more than 145,000 calls have been made to Alabama’s Quitline. Callers dial 1-800 Quit Now (1-800-784-8669) to enroll in the program. Coaching is required to receive the NRT which is mailed to the user’s home every two weeks while participating in the program.

Callers with certain medical conditions may be referred to their health care provider for NRT approval. The Alabama Tobacco Quitline had the third highest quit rate among reporting quitlines, according to 2013 data from the North American Quitline Consortium.

The Quitline is open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to midnight. For those who prefer electronic services, a website, QuitNowAlabama.com, is available. Mobile apps and text messaging are also available.

Source: Alabama Department of Public Health

Mobile County Health Department annual spring training planned for May 1 at the Bright Spot

Wear blue on April 2 for National Autism Day

SWAT ALERT: Students Working Against Tobacco recognized by Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson

Members of the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) team met with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson before a

Mobile City Council meeting in anticipation of March 18 Kick Butts Day. The students, from area public schools.

Sign held by a student in Cathedral Square during Kick Butts Day on March 18, 2015.

 

 

Students from Murphy High School answer questions about the dangers of tobacco on March 18, 2015 in Cathedral Square.

 

Immunizations staff awarded team GEM and traveling trophy for their service to patients

VACCINES MATTER: The Mobile County Health Department’s Immunizations staff has been awarded the Team GEM for the fourth quarter of 2014. The group was recognized for the work they do ensuring that children and adults receive age-appropriate vaccines in a professional and caring environment. Congratulations, ladies!

 

 

 

 

Mobile County Health Department's Women's Health Center damaged by fire March 4

A fire believed to have been intentionally set on March 4, 2015, caused damage to

the back of the Women's Center on Cox Street in Mobile.

MOBILE, Ala. – Video surveillance from Wednesday morning captured footage of at least one person damaging the Mobile County Health Department’s Cox Street property that houses a children’s and a women’s health center, among other programs. A fire was set near a back entrance. Windows were damaged and a generator was tampered with, officials said.

 Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for Mobile County, estimated that less than $10,000 worth of damage was sustained in the incident that began about 4 a.m. March 4, 2015.

No apparent injuries were sustained in the fire that damaged the back of the structure. Images from the health agency’s video cameras are being turned over to investigators with the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department to aid in the investigation, Eichold said.

In the video, at least one adult male wearing a dark, short-sleeve shirt and long shorts could be seen throwing objects at windows. The man was wearing short white socks and dark shoes. He appeared to be bald with no visible facial hair.

The Mobile County Health Department and its primary care division, known as Family Health, uses video cameras at all of its properties to monitor activity 24 hours a day.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Mobile Fire-Rescue at 251-208-MFRD or 251-208-7311.