Health Department releases annual report

Huron County Public Health, also known as HCPH, on Monday released its 2023 annual report. The organization's mission is to "achieve and sustain healthy people and healthy communities by providing public health services which promote health and prevent disease." Health Commissioner Tim Hollinger pointed out several accomplishments of HCPH over 2023. "HCPH had a packed year of collaboration with community partners, and we championed several new grants and projects such as the installation of the harm reduction vending machine in July 2023, that is stocked with items that aim to overall reduce the number of overdose deaths in the community." Hollinger said HCPH initially received pushback from the community over the vending machine, which offers items such as condoms, narcotic overdose medication Naloxone, fentanyl test strips, Deterra drug deactivation /disposal pouches, and Covid 19 test kits. "The public was a bit apprehensive at first, but as we explained and demonstrated the benefits of the vending machine, this quickly became a highly-used asset in our community," Hollinger wrote. Another thing accomplished in 2023 was getting ready for the mass gathering of people expected for the solar eclipse, which is happening on April 8. "We're all trying our best to envision what we can do to prepare as best as possible, but with the amount of people expected to be traveling to Huron County, specifically Norwalk, this is a challenging task to prepare for," Hollinger wrote. HCPH's Environmental Health Division has been busy sharing the proper permit applications that may be needed during the gathering for the eclipse such as temporary food license permits, temporary campground permits, temporary body art permits and mass gathering permits. Other achievements over the past year include: Renewing the Creating Healthy Communities grant, allowing the continuation of partnerships between HCPH and community partners to bring active living and healthy eating resources to Huron County Launching the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Data Dashboard in coordination with community partners such as the Huron County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services to ultimately provide timely and accurate data to help the community in Huron County make data-driven decisions and create greater awareness to reduce stigma. Applying for and being granted the Reproductive Health & Wellness grant through the Ohio Department of Health through fiscal year 2025. This grant for $65,000 allows HCPH to continue assisting the community with various reproductive health services such as STD testing and treatment, pregnancy tests, birth control options and more. Installation of touch-free doors at the entrances of HCPH's medical division, which allows for a decrease in the spreading of germs. Receiving the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant for fiscal year 2024 — spanning July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 — in the amount of $72,791. In April 2023, HCPH's Epidemiologist/Emergency Planner received a scholarship from the National Association of County and City Health Officials to attend the 2023 Preparedness Summit in Atlanta. Keeping track of communicable diseases reported throughout the year. The top five communicable diseases in 2023 were chlamydia, hepatitis C, flu-associated hospitalization, campylobacteriosis and gonorrhea. The community programs division launched programs at Stokely Park in Norwalk, which included the purchase of youth soccer goals, a climbing/discovery cave, and a basketball hoop, Willard City Park Project, which included the purchase of a slide, and reservoir project in Greenwich, which involved purchases of a climbing wall, ADA-accessible play surfacing, and stone border, among other things. Receiving awarded $100,000 grant to address vaccine hesitancy in Huron County Receiving a $50,000 grant to address suicide, overdose and adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACEs Distributing 40 car seats/boosters in 2023 Providing medically-assisted substance use disorder treatments to 12 people Issuing birth certificates for babies born in Huron County. There were 732 babies born in 2023. Top baby names for boys were Elijah, Theodore, and Henry. Top baby names for girls were Elliana, Amelia, and Avery.