Southwest Georgia Network

Posted on March 29, 2019 by walterljohnsonii@yahoo.com

Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District

Albany, GA – Southwest Health District is observing National Public Health Week April 1-7.

“During the week, we will celebrate the power of prevention, advocate for healthy and fair policies, share strategies for successful partnerships and champion the role of a strong public health system,” said Dr. Charles Ruis, Health Director for Southwest Health District.  “Each day of National Public Health Week will focus on a public health topic.”

The American Public Health Association, which sponsors the weeklong observance, said the goal is for the topics to spark new conversations and engage new stakeholders in communities regarding Public Health. The daily themes identified for National Public Health Week by the APHA are:

  *  Healthy communities-people’s health longevity and well-being are connected to their communities and smart local policies can prioritize their health

  *  Violence prevention-research shows violence is impacting our health through suicide, gun violence, intimate partner violence and more

  *  Rural health-rural communities have higher burdens of chronic disease and limited access to primary care and prevention services

  *  Technology and Public Health-technology can be a potent Public Health tool and can help encourage positive health behavior changes

  *  Climate change-addressing climate change comes with new opportunities to save lives and improve health

  *  Global health-across the world, communities still struggle with preventable and often-neglected diseases that resources can help combat

“We are all touched by these issues,” Ruis noted. “Public Health’s greatest strength is in the diversity of its supporters and their expertise. We are all part of solutions to these problems.”

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Posted on March 28, 2019 by walterljohnsonii@yahoo.com

Press Release courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System

Albany, Ga. – Phoebe recognized area physicians Thursday with a special ceremony and a donation to a health-related charity in their honor.  March 30 is National Doctors’ Day.  Phoebe celebrated early by hosting a brief ceremony in the lobby of the main hospital to thank all physicians on Phoebe’s medical staff.

Phoebe CEO Scott Steiner spoke at the event and highlighted the important role physicians play in our community.  “Hippocrates said, ‘Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.’  We’re in the business of love, and we do that through healing,” Steiner said.  “Our physicians lead that healing process for us, and we’re grateful for their service.” 

The medical staff of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is made up of 360 physicians representing 41 specialties.  Around 175 of those physicians are employed by Phoebe.  Phoebe used to commemorate Doctors’ Day by giving each physician on the medical staff a small gift.  About 10 years ago, Phoebe decided that money would be better spent on a charitable donation in honor of physicians. 

Each year, the medical staff chooses a charity to receive the donation.  This year, they chose Horizons Community Solutions.  That organization began in 2002 as the Cancer Coalition of South Georgia.  It expanded in 2016 with a broad new mission to improve wellness and economic vitality in southwest Georgia.  Horizons CEO Cynthia George accepted a $5,000 check from Phoebe.  “We wouldn’t be able to do anything without our physicians and our hospitals.  They are our partners,” George said.  “Physicians make the health of our community.  They take care of patients, and we work in concert with them.  We will use this $5,000 for cancer screenings and to improve community health in this region,” she added. 

Doctors’ Day was first observed in Winder, GA on March 30, 1933.  Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a prominent physician, honored physicians by sending them greeting cards and placing red carnations on the graves of deceased physicians.  Red carnations remain a symbol of Doctors’ Day.  Phoebe provided red carnations at the ceremony and encouraged each physician to take one and pass it along to a patient or co-worker in recognition of the service physicians provide to our community.

Phoebe also hosted special lunches in honor of physicians at its main hospital campus as well as at Phoebe Sumter and Phoebe Worth.

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Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

Posted on March 20, 2019 by walterljohnsonii@yahoo.com

Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District

ALBANY-Three local organizations are joining together to host a Saturday blood drive at the Dougherty County Health Department March 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Be an everyday hero by donating blood,” said Vamella Lovett, RN, Dougherty County Health Department Director. “Your donation may give more life to kids fighting cancer, older adults battling chronic illnesses or accident victims with traumatic injuries.”

Along with the health department, other hosts for the event are the American Red Cross and the Albany (GA) Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Those wishing to schedule appointments to give blood may call 229-638-6424, Option 4, or walk in and schedule an appointment. They can also use the Red Cross link to schedule an appointment.

The health department is located at 1710 South Slappey Blvd.

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Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

Posted on March 20, 2019 by walterljohnsonii@yahoo.com

Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District

Albany, GA – Hepatitis A – a highly contagious liver infection – is on the rise in Georgia, prompting Public Health officials to recommend residents to learn about the disease and to get vaccinated against it.

“The state has seen an increase in hepatitis A, which can lead to a severe illness lasting several months, or which may have no symptoms at all,” said Southwest Health District Epidemiologist Jacqueline Jenkins. In rare cases, it can cause liver failure and death.

“We want residents to be aware that the infection is circulating in Georgia so they can know what to do to prevent it,” she said. Hepatitis A is vaccine-preventable.

Although the infection is surging in parts of the state, Jenkins emphasized that cases of Hepatitis A are not increasing in Southwest Health District.
“We had no confirmed cases here last year and so far this year to date we have none,” she said. “We’d like to keep it that way.”

Vaccine is available at county health departments and is affordable, safe and effective, said Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Charles Ruis. “The health departments accept most insurance,” he said. “Low-pay and no-pay options are also available for qualified applicants.”

The vaccine is usually administered in a series of two doses, which should confer immunity, Ruis said.

It can be given to pregnant women and to people with compromised immune systems, such as persons on dialysis or persons with AIDS, according to the National Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC also noted that administering an extra dose of hepatitis A vaccine isn’t harmful if a person’s vaccine history isn’t known. Further, the vaccine may be administered concurrently with other vaccines, the CDC stated.

Once a person has had hepatitis A, he or she is protected against getting it again, Ruis said.

Some groups are at risk for the disease, and Ruis urged them to get vaccinated against it.

Those at risk for Hepatitis A include:

  *  Substance abusers (both injection and non-injection)
  *  Children age 1 or older
  *  Men who have sex with men
  *  Homelessness
  *  Close contacts and household members of people who have Hepatitis A
  *  People with chronic liver disease (including hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C)
  *  People traveling to places where hepatitis A is common

Symptoms of hepatitis A may include:

  *  Vomiting
  *  Nausea
  *  Fever
  *  Abdominal pain
  *  Loss of appetite
  *  Headache
  *  Diarrhea

The infection is typically transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or by consuming contaminated food or water.
For more information about Hepatitis A, go online to: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/.

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