Public Health touches the lives of millions of people every day, including the citizens of southeast Georgia. National Public Health Week (NPHW), April 5-11, is a time to encourage residents to commit to healthier behaviors for themselves and their families. In addition, NPHW serves as an opportunity to educate residents about public health services.

“Since 1995, communities all over the country have celebrated National Public Health Week to draw attention to the need to help protect and improve the nation’s health,” said W. Douglas Skelton, district health director, District 9-1. “I applaud the work of all of our public health team members. We, in public health, are committed to protecting and advancing the health of all of our citizens.”

The Coastal Health District includes health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties and is one of 18 Public Health Districts in the state. Health departments offer a range of services including:
• Emergency preparedness and response program to respond to both manmade and natural disasters
• Adult and childhood immunizations
• Lead testing
• Environmental health services that include inspecting restaurants, public pools, tourist accommodations and on-site sewage management systems
• Women, Infants, Children’s Nutrition Program (WIC)
• Child health services such as hearing, vision and dental screening
• Women’s health services including breast and cervical cancer screening, family planning and STD testing
• Tuberculosis program
• Health promotion and disease prevention programs, including encouraging Georgians to use the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (1-877-270-7867), a toll-free resource where callers get connected to a trained counselor who can help them develop a personal plan to stop smoking.  

For more information on services offered in Coastal Health District 9-1, please go to www.gachd.org.