The Effingham County Health Committee discussed Health Department Finances during their monthly meeting on Wednesday. According to Terry Elder, Financial Coordinator, the Effingham County Health Department currently has $383,000 in working cash to operate and is currently in the black by $59,000. However, with a lack of a state budget the department has been having to make cuts. The Health Department will, however, receive funds to purchase and apply insecticide to curb the mosquito population during the summer months to help prevent the spread of the Zika Virus.
The Board also heard an update on the Health Department’s Immunization Program. According to Elder, the program is progressing and the Health Department will soon began advertising vaccines to the local community and working with local businesses to ensure that residents are properly vaccinated.
Elder also imformed the Board that the Health Department was seeking to hire an addidtional registered nurse and part-time grounds keeping staff.
Additionally the Board heard a presentation from Emily Anderson, a CDC Public Health Associate Program or PHAP participant with the Clay County Health Department. According to Anderson, PHAPs are CDC employees who take two years to be trained at the local health department level. PHAPs are paid by the CDC so there is little cost to the local department who benefit from extra staff.