Public health touches the lives of millions of people every day, including the citizens of coastal Georgia. This week is National Public Health Week (NPHW) and this year’s theme is “Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money.”

The 2013 NPHW theme was developed to highlight the value of prevention and the importance of well-supported public health systems in preventing disease, saving lives and curbing health care spending.

The Coastal Health District includes the Effingham County Health Department. 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, dental screening, and home visits to new infants and mothers
• Women’s health services including breast and cervical cancer screening, family planning and STD testing
• Tuberculosis program

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