Lyme disease fundraiser!

Whitney Corn, a Hillsborough native battling late-stage Lyme disease—which isn't covered by insurance—will hold a raffle and fundraiser on Saturday, July 9, at 4 p.m. at Schley Grange Hall. Money raised at the event will go toward funding Whitney's treatment as well as paying for various bills the family has had to put on hold to be able to pay medical fees.

To buy raffle tickets, make a donation or help in any way possible, call (919) 602-5555 for Kathy Corn, Whitney's mother. Raffle prizes include:

 First-place—a 55-inch Vizio LCD HD TV.

 Second-place—a photo sitting and 11-by-14 portrait donated by Kent Murray.

 Third-place—a full auto detail donated by Superior Auto Detail.

For more information on the Corn family's struggles, see the Wednesday, May 19, edition of the News of Orange or read it online. For further information about Whitney's ordeal and the politics of Lyme disease, see the Wednesday, July 6, edition of the News of Orange.

April declared Public Health Month

While local health departments work diligently year round to protect the community from health threats, many people are unaware of this resource and how it benefits their quality of life. To raise awareness of the value of public health, the Orange County Health Department will celebrate North Carolina Public Health Month throughout April.
“The Orange County Health Department has many reasons to celebrate Public Health Month this year,” said Dr. Rosemary Summers, Orange County Health Director.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released its 2011 County Health Rankings report on March 30, naming Orange County as the second healthiest county in the state. In February, Orange County Board of Commissioners approved the bid award for renovating the lower level of Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough to expand clinical facilities. Renovations will serve health and dental clinic needs and provide additional space for support staff. Construction began in late February with a completion date set for June.
“We are excited about the renovated facility and anticipate that our clients will receive more efficient services with updated equipment in more pleasant surroundings,” Summers said.
The Health Department will use Public Health Month to promote its motto “Prevent, Promote, Protect… Partnering for the Public’s Health” and the services offered to carry out these functions. The health director will release the department’s fiscal year 2009-2010 annual report, Highlighting Health, which presents financial and program outcomes. Staff will participate in a variety of events, including the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day on April 16, which will include Healthy Carolinians of Orange County’s Real Men Rock educational display to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
The North Carolina Division of Public Health began sponsoring NC Public Health Month in 1978. Local health departments are encouraged to implement activities that build off the national Public Health Week observance (April 4 through 10) and raise awareness of local public health efforts.
The Orange County Health Department has served residents’ public health needs for more than 30 years by offering affordable programs and services through its Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough offices. For more information about Public Health Month in Orange County, visit the health department’s Public Health Month website.

Help conduct a community health opinion survey

The Orange County Health Department is required to conduct a community health assessment every four years. To assess the health of the county, a large group of volunteers have been working for many months. They are reviewing the available data related to various health issues and talking with community members and service providers. Their goal is to find out where there are gaps and needs for people living in Orange County and also what emerging issues or trends may be affecting the health of residents.

A key component of the assessment process is a community survey. Staff and volunteers from the Health Department will be traveling door-to-door to survey a random sample of households across the county. The survey will take about 45 minutes to complete and will be confidential. The name of the person who is surveyed will not be asked nor will it be connected to their responses in any way.

Teams of surveyors will be working in Chapel Hill and surrounding areas of the southern part of the county on Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19. The following weekend on Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26, teams will be working in Hillsborough and the northern portion of the County. All volunteers will be wearing Orange County Health Department or Healthy Carolinians of Orange County T-shirts and identification badges; many will be driving county cars.

If a surveyor comes to your door, please take the time to share your opinions with them. Also, please secure pets for the safety of the surveyor teams. Participants will not be paid, but will receive a small gift of appreciation and informational materials about Orange County services.

The results of the survey will be compiled and included in the final report of the community health assessment, which will be completed in November 2011. People’s responses and opinions will help to determine the direction of future programs for the health department and other agencies across the county who depend on the community assessment process to determine what the needs of the county are in terms of health.

Volunteers are still needed to help conduct the surveys. If you are able to work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on any of the survey days listed above and would like to be involved in this important community process, please contact Amanda Bartolomeo at abartolomeo@co.orange.nc.us or 245-2388.

Bilingual English-Spanish speakers are needed as well as. Volunteers need no prior experience; training will be offered on each survey day from 8 to 9 a.m. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and refreshments will be provided to all volunteers.