Food Bank Partners with WIC

Thursday, March 21, the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) partnered with Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale County Health Departments’ (GNR) WIC program, hosting a mobile food pantry outside the Lawrenceville Health Center on Grayson Highway. The event was open specifically to participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. Participants received a box of fresh produce from Georgia farms and other items to make a meal, like spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce. “This is such a blessing,” one participant was heard saying.

“The Atlanta Community Food Bank reached out to partner with us to support WIC participation and to expand their food distribution to families in need,” said Diane Shelton, GNR WIC Nutrition Director. “This is a great service to our community and participants in our program.”

WIC program participants receive education about nutrition and health to help families eat well and be healthy, support and information about breastfeeding, and food vouchers to buy healthy foods from WIC-authorized vendors.

“Part of our goal as an organization is to make sure that we are definitely focusing on families with children. It’s one of the biggest populations in need right now,” said Ron Burns, Jr., Director of Partner Relations with ACFB. “We’re being proactive partnering with WIC to try and close that gap and get them what they need.”

Learn more about WIC and how to qualify.

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Diabetes Alert Day!

Diabetes affects about 30.3 million Americans or about 9.4 percent of the U.S. population. Nearly 1 in 4 adults living with diabetes and worse, 7.2 million Americans, are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to complications like kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, and amputations. But type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be permanent—it can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle modifications. The first step is learning your risk.

That’s why this year Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments is participating in American Diabetes Association Alert Day®. On March 26th from 10AM – 2PM, there will be two events hosted locally for Diabetes Alert Day.

Norcross Health & Human Services building located at 5030 Georgia Belle Court in Norcross

Centerville Community Center at 3025 Bethany Rd in Snellville to take a Risk Test and an A1C test to find out if you’re at risk.

On March 26th, we encourage you to take a simple and anonymous one minute test to find out if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. You’ll answer questions such as, “Do you have a family history of diabetes?” and “Are you physically active?” to learn your diabetes risk in 60 seconds. It’s that simple.

Once you’ve taken the test, share it with friends and family—with 84 million Americans at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, someone you love could be at risk.

Learn more about this disease, how to prevent it, and how to fight back to help transform your life at http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/wellness-lives-here/mission-engagement-days/alert-day/ .

We hope you’ll join us by learning your type 2 diabetes risk this year for Alert Day, and help others do the same.

Helpful Links

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5 Things to Know About Tuberculosis (TB)

1. Is TB still a public health problem worldwide and in the United States?

Fact: TB is one of the world’s deadliest diseases. One-third of the world’s population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB, and each year, over 9 million people around the world become sick with TB disease. Almost one-and-a-half million deaths worldwide occur each year from TB.

In the United States, 9,105 TB cases were reported during 2017. While TB rates in the United States have been declining slowly since 1993, there remains a disproportionate burden of TB among racial and ethnic minorities. TB rates are higher for some racial and ethnic groups, probably because a greater proportion of people in these groups have other risk factors for TB.

2. Does everyone who becomes infected with TB bacteria get sick?

Fact: Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick with TB disease. People who become infected, but are not sick have what is called latent TB infection (LTBI). People who have LTBI do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB bacteria to others. But some people with LTBI go on to get TB disease. People who have TB disease do feel sick, have signs and symptoms, and may spread TB bacteria to others. Learn more about the difference between LTBI and TB disease.

3. Can some people get TB disease easier than others?

Fact: While anyone can get TB disease, some people wgho get infected with TB bacteria are more likely to get sick. You have a higher chance of getting TB disease if you:

  • People who have spent time with someone who has TB disease
  • People from a country where TB disease is common (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia)
  • People who live or work in high-risk settings (for example: correctional facilities, long-term care facilities or nursing homes, and homeless shelters)
  • Health-care workers who care for patients at increased risk for TB disease
  • Infants, children and adolescents exposed to adults who are at increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection or TB disease

4. What kinds of tests can detect TB infection?

Fact: Two Tests: A skin test or a TB blood test can be used to detect TB infection.

The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. A person given the tuberculin skin test must return within 48 to 72 hours to have a trained health care worker look for a reaction on the arm.

The TB blood test measures how the person’s immune system reacts to the bacteria that cause TB.

5. How are latent TB infection and TB disease treated?

Fact: LTBI and TB disease can be treated by taking medicine. It is very important that people take the drugs exactly as they are told. If you stop taking the drugs too soon, you can become sick again. If you do not take the drugs correctly, the bacteria that are still alive may become difficult to treat with those drugs. You should take medicine as recommended by a doctor. Learn more about TB treatment.

Helpful Links 

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Keep Your Preteen Safe – Vaccinate Them Today

Vaccinate your preteen today so they can have healthy tomorrow.

In an effort to protect every adult and child, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments is joining the Georgia Department of Public Health in recognizing March 11-15, 2019 as Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week. This week serves as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Immunizations Coordinator, Gloria Melvin, stresses. “It’s important for parents and young adolescents to be educated on immunizations that prevent illnesses. Thanks to these vaccines, preteens can have a healthier future by protecting themselves against preventable infectious diseases.”

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health Rule (511-2-2), all students born on or after January 1, 2002, entering or transferring into seventh grade and any “new entrant” into eighth to 12th grades in Georgia need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) AND an adolescent meningococcal vaccination (MenACWY). This law affects all public and private schools including, but not limited to, charter schools, community schools, juvenile court schools and other alternative school settings (excluding homeschool).

Vaccines are the best defense we have against serious, preventable and sometimes deadly contagious diseases. They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and meningitis. Immunizations also reduce absences both at school and after school activities and decrease the spread of illness at home, school and the community.

“Every parent wants to protect their child from danger, yet many times parents don’t see vaccination as a priority,” said Sheila Lovett, Immunization Program director for the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Vaccinating your child is the single best way to protect them from these preventable diseases, so we urge parents to make this a priority.”

The CDC currently recommends the following vaccines for preteens and teens:
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
• Influenza (flu)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Meningococcal Disease (MenACWY)
Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is an opportunity to raise awareness through schools, health care providers and the media regarding preteen immunizations, particularly Georgia’s pertussis and meningococcal requirements for incoming seventh-grade students. Speak with your physician today to find out if your preteen is up-to-date.

Helpful Links

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HIV Prevention Starts With Me

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) is an annual observance that sheds light on the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls. Every year on March 10, and throughout the month of March, national and community organizations come together to show support for women and girls impacted by HIV and AIDS. This year marks the 12th observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Today, about one in four people living with HIV in the United States is female. Only about half of women living with HIV are getting care, and only four in 10 of them have the virus under control. Women face unique HIV risks and challenges that can prevent them from getting needed care and treatment. Addressing these issues remains critical to achieving an HIV- and AIDS-free generation.

The 2019 theme is “HIV Prevention Starts With Me.” Everyone — women, men, community organizations, health care professionals, those who are HIV-negative, and those living with HIV — has a role to play in HIV prevention. There are steps you can take to protect yourself, your partner, your patients, family, and neighbors from HIV infection. Learn how.

To learn more, explore these links:

What every woman needs to know about HIV

What every girl needs to know about HIV

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day fact sheet


Content provided by the Office of Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Diseases Can Travel and Spread Easily

You may have never seen a case of polio or diphtheria, but these diseases still occur in other countries. For example, measles is rare in the United States because of vaccination, but it is still common around the world. Unvaccinated travelers who are infected while abroad can easily bring diseases to the United States.

Measles is a contagious viral infection that spreads through coughing and sneezing. It starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles can be dangerous for babies and young children, especially. Make sure you and your child are protected with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

If you are a healthcare provider:  report suspect cases of measles IMMEDIATELY by calling your local District Health Office or the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours Monday through Friday, or 1-866-PUB-HLTH after-hours on evenings and weekends.

Helpful Links:

About Measles

Measles Infographic 

Measles Vaccine

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February 7, 2019 – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

This year’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day theme is  “Together for Love: Stop HIV Stigma”. It highlights the messages of the Act Against AIDSLet’s Stop HIV Together campaign.  Let’s Stop HIV Together raises awareness that we all have a role to play in stopping HIV stigma.

The Issue 

According to the CDC, there are more Blacks/African Americans newly diagnosed with HIV diagnoses and living with HIV, compared to other races/ethnicities. In 2017,  43% (16,694) of the 38,739 new HIV diagnoses in the United States were found in Blacks/African Americans.

The Challenges Faced by Blacks/African Americans

1 in 7 Blacks/African Americans with HIV are unaware they have it. People who do not know they have HIV cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment and may unknowingly pass HIV to others.

Some Black/African American communities have higher rates of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than other racial/ethnic communities. Having another STD can increase a person’s chance of getting or transmitting HIV.

Stigma, fear, discrimination, and homophobia may place many Black/African Americans at higher risk for HIV.

The poverty rate is higher among African Americans than other racial/ethnic groups which can limit their access to healthcare, housing, and HIV prevention education. These factors may explain why African Americans have worse outcomes on the HIV continuum of care, including lower rates of linkage to care and viral suppression.

Next Steps 

The CDC funds state and local health departments to deliver effective HIV prevention services. GNR Health Departments offer free HIV testing and education all year round. We have nurses, peer counselors, and educators that work hard to reduce the HIV stigma. This year, our STD/HIV Prevention team will provide Free HIV testing at Georgia Gwinnett College on February 15 and February 22 from 12 PM to 4 PM . Testing will take place in the GGC Fitness Center located at 55 Collins Industrial Way, Lawrenceville, GA 30043.

Helpful Links

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Get Screened: January is Cervical Health Awareness Month

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month! The Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments encourage every woman to make a New Year’s resolution to talk with their healthcare provider about cervical health! Nearly 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and of those, about one-third will die as a result of the cancer. But the disease is highly preventable and treatable with improved vaccinations and screenings!

The American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition have named January Cervical Health Awareness Month to encourage women in the United States to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if they are eligible and get the appropriate age-based Pap and HPV tests. We offer both the vaccine and the women’s health screenings at all of our clinic locations, just visit www.gnrhealth.com/locations to find the one closest to you!

Contributed by Women’s Health staff member, Capri Martinez. 

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Flood Safety

Flood Awareness

More people drown in their cars than anywhere else during a flood.  People believe the weight of their car will keep them on the road.  Think about it for a moment.  An aircraft carrier weighs 97,000 tons and it floats.  A foot of water will float many vehicles and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles – including SUV’s.

Flood and flash flood WATCHES mean flooding is possiblebe prepared to move to higher ground and tune in for weather information.

Flood and flash flood WARNINGS mean flooding is occurring and if advised to evacuate, do so immediately, even if on foot.

All floods are not alike.  Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days.  But flash floods can develop quickly, even in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain.  Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path.  Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be very destructive.

The Danger is Real

  • The first step is to protect your home and family by purchasing flood insurance (floodsmart.gov). Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding.
  • Copy important documents and take pictures of possessions.
  • Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or other media.
  • Don’t walk through a flooded area because 6 inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • Don’t drive through flooded areas and stay away from downed power lines.
  • Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.
  • Watch out for animals that have lost their homes during a flood.  Animals may seek shelter in your home and aggressively defend themselves (especially poisonous snakes).

 

http://www.ready.gov/floods

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Infant Ibuprofen Recalled Nationwide in Select Stores

U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a Nationwide Recall of Infant’s Ibuprofen Concentrated Oral Suspension in CVS, Walmart and Family Dollar. The product is a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is used as a pain reliever or fever reducer. The recall was issued due to potential higher concentrations of ibuprofen. Infants who may be more susceptible to higher potency level of drug are potentially more vulnerable to permanent NSAID- associated Renal Injury. Adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, diarrhea, tinnitus, headache, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Pharmaceutical company, Tris Pharma, the company who voluntarily recalled the Infants Ibuprofen, has not received any reports of adverse events related to the product.

If you have questions regarding this recall, contact Tris Customer Service (Pharmaceutical Company) at 732-940-0358.

 

Click here for more FDA Recall Information

 

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