Healthy Living: Grant money aimed at combating obesity, related diseases
The Chickahominy Health District, which includes the New Kent and Charles City County Health Departments, has been awarded a Healthy Eating/Active Living Grant for 2014.
The primary goal of the grant will be to develop a community-wide coalition that will address obesity and related chronic diseases which can accompany poor diet and lack of adequate physical activity, and explore what we can do as a community to help improve our community’s health.
If you or your organization would like to partner with us in the establishment of this coalition, please contact Melissa Janes, the Health District’s Nutrition Program Coordinator, at (804) 365-4320.
As part of our health promotion efforts, our health district will be participating in the Charles City Middle School Health Fair on March 26, starting at 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in hearing more about our Healthy Eating/Active Living Coalition, participating in health screenings, and in finding out how to be more healthy and active, please attend.
The Health Department will also be conducting free blood pressure screenings and related counseling on the last Wednesday of each month, starting on Jan. 29. Screenings will be held at the Charles City Recreation Center from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and at the Senior Connection Lunch Room from 10-11 a.m. Please come, if interested in keeping a healthy blood pressure.
The Charles City and New Kent County Health Departments offer many clinical services, including: Prenatal Maternity care, Family Planning, Immunizations, and Sexually Transmitted Disease assessments, treatment, and care.
Most services are available on a sliding fee scale, based on income.
Immunizations required for school are free of charge.
Our health departments also administer the Virginia WIC Program, a supplemental food, nutrition education, and breast feeding support program for pregnant and newly parenting mothers, and children under age five. If your family qualifies, all services are free.
Other services the Health Department provides include communicable disease and food borne illness monitoring, restaurant inspections and food safety education, and locating the best areas for placing new wells and septic systems.
The health departments would like to remind you that it is not too late to get a Flu shot. Influenza is active in our area and the vaccine needs two weeks to build up your antibodies, so get vaccinated now.
If you have questions or need services, please call your Local Health Departments:
• New Kent: 804-966-9640
• Charles City: 804-829-2490.
Submitted by the New Kent/Charles City Health Departments.